Thermoregulation

How does our body self-regulate our core temperature? Physiological responses to the cold VASOCONSTRICTION = the constriction or narrowing of blood vessels. When we are exposed to cold, our bodys response is to protect our CORE body temperature and maintain homeostasis. This is an automatic survival response. One of the most noticeable ways the body does this is by restricting blood flow to the extremities. The vessels supplying the extremities with blood constrict. What might extremities refer to? (list tissues) 1. 2. 3. 4 This vasoconstriction reduces heat lost through these extremities and maintains the core temperature within an acceptable range. Its all about surface area. You will lose less heat through your extremities if the warm blood in your body is protected by keeping it within the bodys core. (eg. rings on fingers fitting more loosely when your hands are cold). At the same time, vessels supplying internal organs undergo VASODILATION (the dilation or widening of blood vessels) to accommodate the increased blood flow through those tissues, keeping the majority of blood in the core of your body, protected from the cold. As we found through yesterdays computer simulation, there are other ways the body can produce heat in order to counteract heat loss. What are they?

The ultimate goal of this process is to maintain homeostasis and avoid hypothermia. What are some common Behavioural responses to the cold? 1. 2. 3. 4. Where else might you see Vasoconstriction?

During FIGHT or ______________ response (adrenalin release) in the body. When a person is surprised, scared, or excited, the body responds by releasing adrenalin (also called ________________. This is an anticipatory response that reduces blood flow to skin, digestive tract, and other (not immediately necessary) tissues so that MORE blood is available for tissues that may be immediately necessary (muscles, brain, heart). As you can see from the above examples, our body undergoes automatic changes in response to certain environmental stimuli. In each response, blood flow throughout the body is adjusted to benefit the immediate needs of the individual.

What is blood pressure and how does it relate to the beating of the heart?
Blood pressure, measured with a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope by a nurse or other healthcare provider, is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries, resulting in the highest blood pressure as the heart contracts. One cannot take his own blood pressure unless an electronic blood pressure monitoring device is used. Electronic blood pressure monitors may also measure the heart rate, or pulse. Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure. The higher number, or systolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart contracts and pumps blood through the body. The lower number, or diastolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart is at rest and is filling with blood. Both the systolic and diastolic pressures are recorded as "mm Hg" (millimeters of mercury). This recording represents how high the mercury column is raised by the pressure of the blood. A normal blood pressure is considered to be 120/80. High blood pressure, or hypertension, directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease (heart attack) and stroke (brain attack). With high blood pressure, the arteries may have an increased resistance against the flow of blood, causing the heart to pump harder to circulate the blood.

What factors affect blood pressure? Diet (Cholesterol - HDL = protective, LDL = plaque build up) Age hypertension, athlerosclerosis Genetics some individuals are predisposed to developing hypertension Temperature (heat = vasodilation) Stress (adrenalin) increases blood pressure Caffeine (vasoconstriction) Cigarette smoking (vasoconstriction)

What you should know and understand from this week, focusing on the heart and the maintenance of homeostasis: 1. Chambers (locations within the heart and relative sizes) 2. Valves of the heart (locations, function, and contribution to heart sounds). Which are open during Systole? Diastole? 3. Major vessels leading into and out of the heart (difference between arteries and veins? What is unique about the pulmonary artery and vein). 4. Blood flow through the heart. 5. Electrical stimulation of the heart (SA, AV, Bundle of His, Purkinje fibers) 6. How our body thermoregulates (incl. hypothermia, hyperthermia, vasodilation and vasoconstriction) 7. The effect of exercise on the heart (stroke volume and residual volume) 8. Fight of Flight response (adrenalin) 9. Diastole and Systole (define and describe relationship to blood pressure) 10. ABO blood groupings and donation 11. Blood components (RBCs, WBCs, platelets, etc)

An excellent resource besides the class weebly (mrpuffsbio-chem-science.weebly.com) is the link below. Please do take advantage of these resources during your preparation for Mondays test and in your general understanding of the circulatory system. http://www.naturalhealthschool.com/8_1.html