BIOLOGY IN FOCUS

MAINTAINING A BALANCE

Chapter 1 Temperature regulation

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Negative feedback mechanisms and temperature ). &/#53

regulation
Linked to
gather, process and analyse information from secondary page 20
sources and use available evidence to develop a model of
a feedback mechanism
Relevant websites on negative feedback mechanisms and
temperature regulation
Use the websites below to develop a general model for a negative feedback mechanism.

www.seas.harvard.edu/courses/es96/spring1997/web_page/health/thermreg.htm

This website deals with how the body functions under changed temperature conditions.

www.innertchill.com/index.php?page=updates

This website has a ow chart and explanation of how a computer monitors its heat levels and
maintains a constant temperature, with software implementing a cooling system to reduce
overheating in the hardware. For this to occur, the software must be able to monitor the hardware
and control and react to changed situations.

http://g.cox.miami.edu/~cmallery/150/physiol/sf38x17.jpg

Model of room temperature controllers.

http://g.cox.miami.edu/~cmallery/150/physiol/c44x10thermo-reg.jpg

How the hypothalamus regulates body temperature; this has an excellent diagram representing
homeostatic feedback control of thermoregulation.

www.abcbodybuilding.com/magazine04/thermoregulation.htm

A very interesting website that looks at temperature regulation in the body while participating in
sport. It deals with both overheating in body builders and other athletes and with overcooling,
particularly for people taking part in water sports.

www.southtexascollege.edu/nilsson/4_GB_LectureNotes_f/4_GB_16_AnimS_Ho_J_
Spr2003.html

A simple outline of homeostasis, temperature regulation in the human body and negative feedback,
suitable to give a basic understanding to secondary school students.

Copyright 2008 McGraw-Hill Australia. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
BIOLOGY IN FOCUS

Questions on negative feedback model

1. Draw a ow chart of a general model of a negative feedback mechanism in the space provided
below.

2. Compare the model with negative feedback in temperature regulation in humans:

Model Temperature regulation

stimuli

co-ordinating (control) centre

effectors

negative feedback loop

3.. Using the model of a negative feedback mechanism that you have developed or the generalised
one given to you by your teacher, use different-coloured pens to annotate the model with the
various stages of temperature regulation in humans.
4. To validate your model:
(a) Describe ways in which the application of your model to temperature control is an accurate
representation of a negative feedback mechanism.

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

(b) Describe any limitations of this model for temperature control.

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2008 McGraw-Hill Australia. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
BIOLOGY IN FOCUS

5. Complete the table below by naming the effectors and summarising the responses that occur in
each when body temperature increases in mammals:

Heat ________ centre of the hypothalamus sends nerve impulses to effector organs:

Effector Response

6. Complete the table below by naming the effectors and summarising the responses that occur in
each when body temperature decreases in mammals:

Heat ________ centre of the hypothalamus sends nerve impulses to effector organs:

Effector Response

7. Insert a suitable diagram (from a website or any other source) to represent the negative
feedback mechanism for thermoregulation in mammals, for example humans. Acknowledge your
source.

Copyright 2008 McGraw-Hill Australia. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
BIOLOGY IN FOCUS

Answers
1. Draw a ow chart of a general model of a negative feedback mechanism in the space provided
below.

Negative feedback model

control centre
receives information
from sensor and
initiates a response

sensor: effector:
detects change reponds to
counteract change

increase in response:
variable decreases variable

external
change

decrease in response:
variable increases variable

effector:
sensor: reponds to
detects change counteract change

control centre
receives information
from sensor and
initiates a response

Copyright 2008 McGraw-Hill Australia. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
BIOLOGY IN FOCUS

2. Compare
p the model with negative
g feedback in temperature
p regulation
g in humans:

Model Temperature regulation

stimuli heating up/cooling down

co-ordinating (control) centre hypothalamus (thermostat)

effectors arterioles of the skin, muscles, sweat glands, hairs, thyroid

glands

negative feedback loop negativethe response decreases or counteracts the

stimulus

3.. Using the model of a negative feedback mechanism that you have developed or the generalised
teacher, use different-coloured pens to annotate the model with the
one given to you by your teacher
various stages of temperature regulation in humans.

Negative feedback model

e.g. central nervous system

co-ordinates input and
initiates a response

control centre
receives information
from sensor and
initiates a response

e.g thermostat E
EG
EGs SWEATGLANDS
e.g. sensory initiates a response
sensor: effector: produce sweat
receptors in
detects change reponds to sSKINCAPILLARIESDILATE
hypothalamus
counteract change sDECREASEDMETABOLIC
e.g. oven probe rate
thermostat detects e.g. heating
change element
switches off

body increase in e.g. oven e.g. oven response: e.g body

e.g.
overheats variable overheats cools down decreases variable co down
cools

external
change

body decrease in e oven

e.g. e.g. oven response: e.g.
e.g body
overcools variable o
overcools heats up increases variable warms
wa up

EGs
EG MUSCLESCONTRACT
e.g. sensory e.g. oven probe
e e.g. heating effector: and produce shivering
sensor: element reponds to sSKINCAPILLARIESCONSTRICT
receptors in in thermostat
detects change switches onn counteract change sHAIRSSTANDERECT
hypothalamus detects change
d
sSWEATINGISINHIBITED
e.g thermostat
initiates a response

control centre
receives information
from sensor and
initiates a response

e.g.
e g central nervous system
co-ordinates input and
initiates a response

Copyright 2008 McGraw-Hill Australia. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
BIOLOGY IN FOCUS

4. To validate your model:

(a) Describe ways in which the application of your model to temperature control is an accurate
representation of a negative feedback mechanism.
It is accurate because it shows negative feedback where the response decreases
(counteracts) the original stimulus.
(b) Describe any limitations of this model for temperature control.
The model is a simplication of the process and only shows the negative feedback aspects
that we are interested in representing. For example, a thermostat responds to changes in the
external temperature only, but in thermoregulation both external and internal temperature
are monitored and affect the response.
5. Complete the table below by naming the effectors and summarising the responses that occur in
each when body temperature increases in mammals:

Heat loss centre of the hypothalamus sends nerve impulses to effector organs:

Effector Response

skinsweat glands sweating

skin arterioles dilate

thyroid gland metabolic rate decreases

6. C
Complete the ttable
l t th bl bbelow
l by naming
b i ththe effectors
ff t and
d summarising
i i ththe responses th
thatt occur iin
each when body temperature decreases in mammals:

Heat promoting centre of the hypothalamus sends nerve impulses to effector organs:

Effector Response

involuntary muscles shivering

skin arterioles constrict

erector muscles of hairs contract, causing hairs to stand up

thyroid gland metabolic rate increases

Copyright 2008 McGraw-Hill Australia. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.