Homeostatic Control of Core Body Temperature
Homeostatic Control of Core Body Temperature
Our bodies have processes that happen to keep everything at an even rate. If things get out of balance our bodies tries to bring them back into balance. Homeostasis refers to the processes of keeping internal body environment in a steady rate, when the external environment is changed. The aim of this essay is to discuss the internal environment, the importance of regulation of core temperature, negative feedback and positive feedback and contrast control of core body temperature in normal conditions and in hypothermia.
The internal environment of living organisms is enclosed within the body. It features body fluids in multicellular animals (includes humans) fluids include blood plasma, tissue fluid and intracellular body. It provides the cells with the medium in which they have to live in and function properly. The internal environment must be maintained in such a state as to allow maximum effiency. Most heat exchange occurs through the skin, as it is the barrier between the internal and external environments.
Figure 1 shows the summary of body temperature control by the thermoregulatory centre which is the hypothalamus.
Fig 1: Thermoregulatory centre
[pic]
Importance of regulation of core environment is very essential for organisms to function. The cells in any living organism will function properly in the correct conditions. Regulating factors such as temperature, requires considerable amounts of energy and complex mechanisms to keep these functions within defined limits. The regulation of body temperature is called thermoregulation. Most chemical reactions have an optimal activity; they work best under specific conditions. Enzymes, for example are most active at specific temperature and PH. In humans enzymes are most active at the regulated body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius and PH.
All homeostatic mechanisms use negative feedback feed back to maintain a constant value (called the set
Our bodies have processes that happen to keep everything at an even rate. If things get out of balance our bodies tries to bring them back into balance. Homeostasis refers to the processes of keeping internal body environment in a steady rate, when the external environment is changed. The aim of this essay is to discuss the internal environment, the importance of regulation of core temperature, negative feedback and positive feedback and contrast control of core body temperature in normal conditions and in hypothermia.
The internal environment of living organisms is enclosed within the body. It features body fluids in multicellular animals (includes humans) fluids include blood plasma, tissue fluid and intracellular body. It provides the cells with the medium in which they have to live in and function properly. The internal environment must be maintained in such a state as to allow maximum effiency. Most heat exchange occurs through the skin, as it is the barrier between the internal and external environments.
Figure 1 shows the summary of body temperature control by the thermoregulatory centre which is the hypothalamus.
Fig 1: Thermoregulatory centre
[pic]
Importance of regulation of core environment is very essential for organisms to function. The cells in any living organism will function properly in the correct conditions. Regulating factors such as temperature, requires considerable amounts of energy and complex mechanisms to keep these functions within defined limits. The regulation of body temperature is called thermoregulation. Most chemical reactions have an optimal activity; they work best under specific conditions. Enzymes, for example are most active at specific temperature and PH. In humans enzymes are most active at the regulated body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius and PH.
All homeostatic mechanisms use negative feedback feed back to maintain a constant value (called the set
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