IGCSE 0610 - Body temperature

and gluco-regulation NOTES

(2023-2025)

Thermoregulation
Core body temperature = 37 degrees celsius

↳ This is good for enzymes

If it’s too hot - cells in body will die, therefore organs will died
If it’s too cold - enzymes won’t work properly

Body extremities
Fingertips

Toes

Tip of nose

↳ They are called body extremities because they are the furthest away from your core
body temperature

Glucoregulation
Insulin and glucagon is being secreted

Both hormones which control blood glucose concentration are made in

the pancreas

When blood sugar is too high, insulin is secreted from the pancreas to stimulates
the removal of glucose from the blood by liver and muscle cells converting
excess glucose to glycogen to be stored

↳ Converts excess glucose → glycogen for storage

IGCSE 0610 - Body temperature and gluco-regulation NOTES (2023-2025) 1

 When blood sugar levels is too low, glucagon is secreted from the pancreas to
stimulates the release of glucose into the blood by liver and muscle cells
converting stored glycogen to glucose

↳ Converts stored glycogen → glucose

Hypothalamus
Body temperature is controlled by the brain and temperature receptors in the
skin

Receptors detect changes in the temperature of blood flowing through those

area

If too high or too low it will pass through the brain anyways

↳ Will send out signals that will increase and decrease heat loss
↳ Reactions can include shivering, vasoconstriction, vasodilation

Parts of the skin

Hair

Hair erector muscle

↳ goosebumps - when hair erector muscle contracts

Sweat glands - twisty and curvy

Receptors

Sensory neuron

Blood vessel and fatty tissue

Vasoconstriction - when you’re cold

Hair is upright

↳ Traps a layer of insulating air - so heat no longer escapes

IGCSE 0610 - Body temperature and gluco-regulation NOTES (2023-2025) 2

 The lumen of the artery are way smaller than before (meaning of
vasoconstriction)

↳ To prevent less heat loss by radiation as less blood flows through the surface of
the skin

Vasodilation - when you’re too hot

Hair on the skin is flatter than usual

Capillaries increases

↳ This cools the body as blood (which carries heat around the body) is flowing at a
faster rate through the skin’s surface and so more heat is lost by radiation

Sweat if formed on the surface of the skin

↳ When sweat evaporates, it takes away the heat from the body

IGCSE 0610 - Body temperature and gluco-regulation NOTES (2023-2025) 3

 When you are hot there will be more blood passing through your skin which means
more heat

IGCSE 0610 - Body temperature and gluco-regulation NOTES (2023-2025) 4