New
New
Year 11
AQA
Higher

The role of the nervous system in thermoregulation

I can describe the roles of receptors, the brain and effectors in controlling human body temperature.

New
New
Year 11
AQA
Higher

The role of the nervous system in thermoregulation

I can describe the roles of receptors, the brain and effectors in controlling human body temperature.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Temperature receptors in the skin and hypothalamus of the brain detect changes in external and blood temperature.
  2. When temperature increases, the hypothalamus sends impulses to effectors (sweat glands, muscles in artery walls).
  3. When temperature decreases, the hypothalamus sends impulses to effectors (hair erector muscles, artery wall muscles).
  4. These autonomic responses work antagonistically to keep body temperature within a narrow range.

Common misconception

Pupils are familiar with the physiological changes that occur in the body when they get cold or hot, but are unaware of the role of the brain in the detection and coordination of this response.

The role of the hypothalamus and thermoregulatory centre in this process are clearly explained and built into the process model of managing the familiar physiological responses.

Keywords

  • Receptor - senses a change in the environment, such as a change in temperature

  • Hypothalamus - part of the brain that controls our internal environment, including water balance and body temperature

  • Effector - a muscle or gland that carries out a response

  • Autonomic - happens without conscious control

  • Antagonistic - effectors and effects that work against each other

Use a 3D model brain to show the location of the hypothalamus. This could be linked with string to models of muscles, hairs etc, or students holding key terms on whiteboards, to make the process very visual and physically engaging.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Which parts are included in the nervous system?
Correct answer: brain
Correct answer: sensory receptors
muscles
hormones
Correct answer: neurones
Q2.
Which label points to the sweat gland in the skin?
An image in a quiz
c
Correct answer: d
e
f
g
Q3.
Which of the following responses occur when we get too hot?
Correct answer: erector pili muscles relax
shivering
Correct answer: sweating
vasoconstriction
Q4.
Match the part of the skin to its function.
Correct Answer:erector pili muscle,causes hairs to lie flat or stand upright

causes hairs to lie flat or stand upright

Correct Answer:sweat gland,excretes sweat

excretes sweat

Correct Answer:muscles in walls of blood vessels,cause vasodilation and vasoconstriction

cause vasodilation and vasoconstriction

Correct Answer:temperature receptor,detects changes in external temperature

detects changes in external temperature

Q5.
Significantly high body temperatures are dangerous because they can cause enzymes to .
Correct Answer: denature, change shape
Q6.
Which option would be most appropriate if you were really cold, and which option correctly explains why?
a really hot bath
Correct answer: provides insulation and warmth
Correct answer: layers of warm clothing and a hot water bottle
causes evaporation and vasodilation

6 Questions

Q1.
Starting from the point of being triggered by a stimulus, put these parts of the nervous system pathway in the correct order.
1 - receptor
2 - coordination centre
3 - effector
Q2.
Internal body temperature can be affected by a variety of factors. Select the external factors.
infection
Correct answer: weather
Correct answer: the clothing we are wearing
stress
exercise
Q3.
Match each part of the nervous system to the part of the body that has that role.
Correct Answer:receptor,hypothalamus

hypothalamus

Correct Answer:coordination centre,thermoregulatory centre

thermoregulatory centre

Correct Answer:effector,sweat gland

sweat gland

Q4.
The instructs muscles to contract to make us shiver when our body temperature decreases.
Correct Answer: thermoregulatory centre, thermoregulatory center, hypothalamus
Q5.
Look at this cross-section through the skin and match the selected parts to the correct labels.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:temperature receptor,e

e

Correct Answer:erector pili muscle,c

c

Correct Answer:sweat gland,d

d

Correct Answer:arteriole ,g

g

Q6.
Whose descriptions of the body's responses to changes in temperature are correct?
Correct answer: Jun: The body's responses to changes in temperature are antagonistic.
Laura: The body's responses to changes in temperature are conscious.
Correct answer: Aisha: The body's responses to changes in temperature are autonomic.
Izzy: The body's responses to temperature change aren't controlled by the brain.