Planet Earth and Its Environment A 5000-million year Journey

Biology in Focus, HSC CourseGlenda Childrawi, Margaret Robson and Stephanie Hollis

Maintaining a BalanceTopic 4: Temperature Regulation and the Nervous System1DOT POINTOutline the role of the nervous system in detecting and responding to environmental changes.IntroductionAny change in the external environment could affect the balance in the internal environment of the organism and so a mechanism is needed to ensure homeostasis. The mechanisms that allows this to occur are based on a negative feedback system, co-ordinated by the nervous system. flickr.com

The Nervous SystemThe function of the nervous system is co-ordination and this takes place in three steps:Detects information about an animals internal and external environmentsTransmits this information to a control centre (the brain)Processes the information and generates a response to ensure the maintenance of a relatively constant internal state.umm.edu

The Nervous SystemThe structures of the nervous system involved in the stimulus-response pathway of coordination are:Receptors: sensory cells, sometimes in sense organs like the noseA control centre: the central nervous system (CNS) which includes the brain and spinal cordEffectors: the things that respond to the message from the CNS (eg: muscles and glands)Nerves: pathways which link all the other parts, relaying messages from one part to another in the form or electrochemical nerve impulsesconservapedia.comThe Nervous SystemA stimulus is detected by a receptor, a message is carried by nerves to a control centre and a response is triggered. For example, if you touch a hot stove with your finger, receptors in your skin detect the heat and pain, and the result is that you withdraw your hand rapidly. onecraftymother.com

The Nervous SystemThis rapid reaction requires a link between the receptors that detect the stimulus and the effectors, the muscles that carry out a response. The co-ordination is carried out by the nerves and the CNS of the body. The response usually counteracts the stimulus (change), reducing its effect so that a balance is maintained. This is a negative feedback system.

catalog.flatworldknowledge.comDetecting ChangeSensory cells called receptors detect stimuli (changes in the internal or external environment). In their most simple form, receptors consist of single cells, scattered over the body of an organism. In their more complex form, they are concentrated in particular areas to form sense organs. natcom.org

Detecting ChangeIn many animals, receptors in sense organs detect stimuli in the external environment. However there are also receptors that are sensitive to internal stimuli within the body. These are called interoreceptors and are important in detecting changes such as pH, body temperature, osmotic pressure and the chemical composition of blood related to homeostasis.ayearfromoakcottage.org

Detecting ChangeReceptors may be named according to the type of energy or molecules they detect. Those receptors important in our study of homeostasis are thermoreceptors and chemoreceptors. Thermoreceptors: detect changes in temperatureChemoreceptors: detect the concentration of certain chemicals inside the body in the blood (eg: carbon dioxide)

doctorhugo.orgCo-ordinationThe brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system (CNS). The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of nerves, which carry information to and from the CNS.

indiana.edu

Co-ordinationThe information carried by nerves is messages transmitted in the form of electrochemical impulses. Incoming information passes from sensory receptors via sensory nerves to the CNS, which in turn transmits outgoing information to effector organs via motor nerves. conservapedia.comCo-ordinationThe role of the CNS is to process incoming information, analyse it and then initiate an appropriate response. Within the CNS, information is processed and analysed by a number of interconnecting nerve cells (neurons) and then a message is generated and transmitted, stimulating the effector organs. health.allrefer.com

Co-ordinationSome actions involving the nervous system may take place voluntarily, but all those involved in homeostasis take place without any conscious thought. They are involuntary and many are inborn, unconditioned reflexed in response to a particular stimulus.slavicabogdanov.com

RespondingA response is a reaction in an organism or its tissues, as a result of receiving a stimulus. It is carried out by structures in the body known as effector organs. These are often muscles and/or glands. The response reaches the effectors from the CNS and causes the body to correct any deviation from the normal balanced state, thereby maintaining homeostasis. articlesandbooks.com

ThermoregulationTemperature is extremely important in maintaining homeostasis in living organisms. Its the role of the nervous system to regulate body temperature. This is called thermoregulation. The body gains heat in many ways. For example:Normal cell function (metabolism) generates heatMuscle contractions: a large proportion of the energy needed for any muscle activity is converted into heat during muscle functioning (this is why we get hot when we exercise)Hot food and drinksHeat (radiant energy) ThermoregulationThe body also loses heat in many ways. For example:Radiation of heat from the body to cooler surroundingsConvection: air currents remove warm air surrounding the body and replace it with cool air.Evaporation: when liquid droplets on the body surface evaporate. Heat is required to change the liquid to gas. Heat from the body is used to do this, and as a result cools the internal environment.conservapedia.comThermoregulationThermoreceptors are present both outside and inside the body. Peripheral receptors are located in the skin and central receptors monitor the temperatures of the blood as is circulates throughout the brain. kidport.com

ThermoregulationThe central receptors are present in the hypothalamus of the brain and are sensitive to extremely small temperature changes (a fraction of a degree). Its also the control centre for temperature regulation in the mammalian body so the receptors dont have to transmit the information very far to elicit a response. mayoclinic.com

ThermoregulationThe anterior hypothalamus has a heat-loss centre, which sends messages to effectors t cool the body down. The posterior hypothalamus has a heat-gain centre, which initiates responses that help the body warm up. siemenslab.de

ThermoregulationThe main homeostatic organ involved in temperature regulation in humans is the skin. If the body becomes to cold, the heat-gain centre of the hypothalamus stimulates responses in the effector organs to generate and/or retain heat within the body. On a cold day we get goose bumps on our skin, become pale and shiver. bonjourbaby.com.au

ThermoregulationRaised hairs on the body (goose bumps) are an attempt to trap a layer of warm air around the body to reduce the amount of heat lost by radiation, convection and conduction. The hypothalamus stimulates the erector muscles in the skin to contract, raising the hairs. This is more effective at trapping heat where the hair is thicker, for example on our heads. supertightstuff.com

ThermoregulationVasoconstriction is the narrowing of the arterioles to the skin. People who are very cold tend to appear pale-faced, with blue-tinged lips, fingers and toes due to poor circulation. This restricts blood flow to the skin and prevents heat carried by the blood throughout the body to be lost from the body's surface. women.webmd.com

ThermoregulationShivering is brought about by rapid small muscle contractions, which generate heat in the body. The body can also speed up metabolism which generates some heat. conservapedia.com

ThermoregulationIf the body becomes too hot, we become red, sweaty and sluggish. These are signs that our heat-loss mechanism has been activated to cool the body. The heat-loss centre of the hypothalamus stimulates the effector organs to lose heat. findavet.us

ThermoregulationVasodilation: dilation (expansion) of the arterioles to the skin. Blood carrying heat is directed towards the surface of the body so that heat can be lost by conduction, convection and radiation to the surroundings.fitsugar.com

ThermoregulationSweating: Sweat glands, the main heat-loss structures in the body, are activated by the heat loss centre in the hypothalamus. Liquid sweat is secreted through the sweat pores onto the surface of the skin and heat is removed from the body to evaporate the liquid. sweatblock.com

ThermoregulationAnimals that do not have sweat glands still lose heat by evaporation. For example, dogs pant, rodents and kangaroos lick their bodies so that the saliva evaporates and cools them down. Plants also cool themselves this way, its called transpiration. critterconsulting.com

use.comThermoregulationAnd finally, decreased metabolism can reduce heat. The heat-loss centre causes the thyroid gland to lower the rate of metabolism, generating less heat. This is why we feel tired and lethargic on hot days. hivehealthmedia.com

Activity-Students are to complete DOT Point 1.7 and 1.8