Temperature Control

1. Temperature variations on Earth

2. Endotherms and Ectotherms

3. Adaptations to survive extreme

temperatures

• In the cold

• In the hot

4. The skin

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 1. Temperature variations on Earth
The average temperature on Earth varies. Countries close to the equator experience very hot dry
climates, those at the poles deal with ice cold conditions and months with very little sunlight.

2. Endotherms and Ectotherms

Temperature regulation
in vertebrates

Endotherms Ectothers

The words Endotherm and Ectotherm describe the way an organism manages to control their
body temperature. All organisms have an optimum temperature, the temperature at which their
enzymes work best.

Endotherms (USED to be known as warm blooded) are organisms that keep a constant core body
temperature. Our core temperature is 37C. We generate our own heat and keep all parts of the
body warm as heat energy is transported through blood in our body. E.g. Birds and mammals.

Ectotherms (USED to be known as cold blooded) are organisms whose body temperature
depends on the environment. They can survive a range of temperatures. E.g. Fish, reptiles,
amphibians.

Some ectotherms have adapted to avoid severe changes in their body temperature by using
behavioural mechanisms.

For example, in the morning, lizards bask in the sun. They do this to warm
themselves up to have enough energy to look for food and carry out other
everyday functions. When lizards get too hot they move into the shade to cool
down. At night when it gets too cool, they burrow into the soil where it is warmer
as the temperature in the soil does not vary as greatly as it does outside it.

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 3. Adaptations to survive extreme temperatures

In the cold

When it is cold we shiver. Shivering is when the muscles contract and relax
quickly and continuously to release heat. The hair on our skin stands on end. This
traps a layer of air which insulates the body and prevents heat from radiating
away. Humans also have behavioural adaptations. In the cold we wear more
layers of clothing.

In humans, vasoconstriction occurs when it is cold. This means that blood vessels constrict, causing
blood to move at a higher speed and so reduces the time for heat to leave the body.
Vasoconstriction also causes the blood vessels to move away from the surface of the skin as they
shrink, reducing heat loss.

Some animals go into hibernation in the coldest months. They go into a deep sleep and their body
temperature and heart rate decrease drastically. They sleep through the cold winter to avoid the
cold and hunger. Pregnant polar bears do something similar however it is not fully hibernation as
their metabolism does not decrease as much. For the rest of the time, the polar bear has a thick
fur coat to keep it warm. They also eat a lot of oily food like salmon to have good food reserves
and insulation.

Whales and penguins have a thick layer of blubber (fat) to protect them from
the freezing arctic. Penguins also huddle together for warmth.

In the Heat

Humans sweat when it is hot. Sweat is released through the sweat glands found in
the skin and consists of water and solutes as it comes from blood plasma. The sweat
then evaporates using latent body heat, causing the body to cool down.

Fact: Only humans sweat. Dogs carry out a similar process called panting. The same
mechanism applies except it only takes place on the tongue.

Vasodilation occurs when it is hot. This means that the blood vessels widen, causing the blood to
move at slower speeds and so allows heat to radiate out of the body. This widening also brings the
vessels closer to the surface of the skin which increases heat loss.

Elephants have big ears with a rich blood supply. These are known as heat windows. Since the
blood vessels are close to the surface, heat is easily lost. Elephants also flap their ears to increase
the rate of heat loss.

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 4. The skin

Epidermis: Outer layer of cells that acts as a barrier to protect the body. It is made up of three
layers. The top layer is a layer of dead cells, while the bottom two layers are living.

Dermis: Makes up the largest part of the skin and includes the hair erector muscle, the sebaceous
glands, sweat glands, receptors (to pressure, pain or temperature) and a rich blood supply.

Hypodermis: A layer of fat that insulates the body.

Sweat gland: Produces sweat which is important for thermoregulation in the body.

Sweat gland duct: Leads sweat from the sweat gland to the sweat pore.

Sweat pore: Pore from which sweat is released onto the skin.

Sebaceous gland: Gland that produces the oily substance called sebum which lubricates and
waterproofs the skin and hair in mammals/

Hair: Hair is used for thermoregulation. When it is standing on end (due to the contraction of the
hair erector muscle) it traps a layer of air over the skin which provides insulation. When the hair is
lying flat (due to the relaxation of the hair erector muscle) a layer of air doesn’t form, which
increases heat loss from the body.

Hair erector muscle: This is the muscle that contracts to cause the hair to stand on end, and which
relaxes to ensure the hair lies flat.

Capillaries: A rich blood supply is needed to supply nutrients to cells and remove waste products.
They are also involved in thermoregulation due to vasoconstriction and vasodilation.

Receptors: There are three types of receptors in the skin which allow us to sense temperature
changes, pressure and pain.

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Topic 6: Temperature control

1. Do I know the difference between an endotherm and an ectotherm?

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2. Can I describe how lizards use behaviour mechanisms to control their body
temperature?

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3. Can I name three ways humans increase their body temperature when it is cold?

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4. Can I name two ways humans decrease their body temperature when it is warm?

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5. Can I name two adaptations polar bears have to survive very cold temperatures?

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6. Do I know the three main layers of the skin?

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7. Do I know which layer contains a sub-layer of cells that are dead? ________________
8. What is the function of the hypodermis in the skin? ________________________________
9. The dermis layer contains many important components. Can I give the function of
each?
a. Blood vessels: _____________________________________________________________
b. Hair: ______________________________________________________________________
c. Hair erector muscle: _______________________________________________________
d. Receptors: ________________________________________________________________
e. Sweat gland: _____________________________________________________________
f. Sweat duct: ______________________________________________________________
g. Sebaceous gland: ________________________________________________________