The role of the skin in thermoregulation
I can describe the roles of various parts of the skin in controlling human body temperature.
The role of the skin in thermoregulation
I can describe the roles of various parts of the skin in controlling human body temperature.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Human body temperature needs to be kept within a small range, around 37°C, to maintain body functions and health.
- Changes in the external environment can cause the internal body temperature to change.
- When temperature decreases, responses (erection of hairs, vasoconstriction) help to return body temperature to normal.
- When temperature increases, responses (sweating, vasodilation) help to return body temperature to normal.
Keywords
Vasoconstriction - The narrowing of blood vessels, reducing blood flow through them.
Insulation - A material that transfers energy by conduction very slowly or not at all.
Radiation - The process of emitting energy, often in the form of infrared waves, from an object.
Vasodilation - The widening of blood vessels, increasing blood flow through them.
Common misconception
Understanding why the physiological responses to higher or lower body temperatures occur is often confused, because although the processes themselves are familiar, the reasons behind them are not.
Detail has been included to explain carefully and one at a time the reasons for a range of physiological responses to high or low body temperature, and these are illustrated with clear, familiar diagrams.
To help you plan your year 11 biology lesson on: The role of the skin 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 skin 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.
Equipment
None required.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
hair
epidermis
erector pili muscle
sweat gland
temperature receptor
venule
This reduces blood flow to the surface of the skin.
This increases blood flow to the surface of the skin.
