Oxygen
consumption is used as a measure of the rate of respiration.
In
sea lions the major skin layer involved in temperature regulation will
be
The
part of the brain involved in temperature regulation is
When
the body temperature rises heat loss can be increased by
Raising
of the hairs by the erector muscle reduces heat loss by
Increased
activity of the sweat glands increases heat loss by
The
way in which body temperature is normally regulated is an example of
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Ectotherms and Endotherms These sea lions are on a New Zealand beach in winter. How do endotherms keep their internal temperature constant? Endotherms Endothermic animals generate their own body heat. This heat comes from animals metabolism, chemical reactions within the body.
Despite this endotherms still need to control heat loss. Without this the body temperature would still fall too low, or high.The skin has a major role in the control of heat loss. In humans it is the hypothalamus which acts as a thermostat and helps to control body temperature. It is sensitive to the temperature of the blood flowing through it and causes changes in the physiological mechanisms by which we regulate temperature (Revision: what are these?) . The hypothalamus is linked via the autonomic nervous system to the appropriate effectors. The highest critical temperature that a human can tolerate varies according to the humidity of the atmosphere. At the high critical temperature the bodies ability to thermoregulate breaks down. The metabolic rate starts to increase with increasing temperature. Eventually this will lead to a positive feedback situation as the increased body temperature itself increase the metabolic rate which in turn increases body temperature. 42*C is the upper lethal body temperature. |