The role of the nervous system in thermoregulation
I can describe the roles of receptors, the brain and effectors in controlling human body temperature.
The role of the nervous system in thermoregulation
I can describe the roles of receptors, the brain and effectors in controlling human body temperature.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Temperature receptors in the skin and hypothalamus of the brain detect changes in external and blood temperature.
- When temperature increases, the hypothalamus sends impulses to effectors (sweat glands, muscles in artery walls).
- When temperature decreases, the hypothalamus sends impulses to effectors (hair erector muscles, artery wall muscles).
- These autonomic responses work antagonistically to keep body temperature within a narrow range.
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
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.
To help you plan your year 11 biology lesson on: The role of the nervous system in thermoregulation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 biology lesson on: The role of the nervous system in thermoregulation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 biology lessons from the Coordination and control: maintaining a constant internal environment unit, dive into the full secondary biology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
causes hairs to lie flat or stand upright
excretes sweat
cause vasodilation and vasoconstriction
detects changes in external temperature
Exit quiz
6 Questions
hypothalamus
thermoregulatory centre
sweat gland
e
c
d
g
