AQA · GCSE · Biology

    Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018

    Body temperature is monitored and controlled by the thermoregulatory…

    Full specification wording

    Control of body temperature (biology only): Body temperature is monitored and controlled by the thermoregulatory centre in the brain.

    The thermoregulatory centre in the brain acts as the body's thermostat.

    Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 1 of 7
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    The thermoregulatory centre in the brain acts as the body's thermostat. It receives information about blood temperature from receptors within itself and about skin temperature from receptors in the skin. It compares this information with a set point, around 37 °C, and coordinates responses through the nervous system. When too hot, it triggers vasodilation and sweating; when too cold, vasoconstriction, shivering and less sweating. These responses change heat loss or heat production to bring temperature back to the set point. This is an example of negative feedback, and it keeps enzymes working at their optimum.

    What earns the marks

    • The thermoregulatory centre is in the brain and monitors body temperature.
    • Responses are negative feedback that returns temperature to about 37 °C.
    • Stable temperature keeps enzymes at their optimum for metabolism.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Saying the skin controls temperature.

      Put it right: The thermoregulatory centre in the brain coordinates the response.

    • Thinking sweating cools the body by producing cold.

      Put it right: Evaporation of sweat transfers energy away.

    • Confusing vasodilation with vasoconstriction.

      Put it right: Dilation widens vessels to lose heat, constriction narrows them to conserve heat.

    Exam tips

    • Name the centre and its location in every answer.
    • Link each response to more or less heat loss.
    • Use the phrase negative feedback when explaining return to normal.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Control of body temperature (biology only): Body temperature is monitored and controlled by the thermoregulatory centre in the brain. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Which part of the body monitors and controls body temperature?

    Listen

    The thermoregulatory centre in the brain acts as the body's thermostat. It receives information about blood temperature from receptors within itself and about skin temperature from receptors in the skin. It compares this information with a set point, around 37 °C, and coordinates responses through the nervous system. When too hot, it triggers vasodilation and sweating; when too cold, vasoconstriction, shivering and less sweating. These responses change heat loss or heat production to bring temperature back to the set point. This is an example of negative feedback, and it keeps enzymes working at their optimum. A strong answer earns marks for these points. The thermoregulatory centre is in the brain and monitors body temperature. Responses are negative feedback that returns temperature to about 37 °C. Stable temperature keeps enzymes at their optimum for metabolism. A common slip: Saying the skin controls temperature. Instead, the thermoregulatory centre in the brain coordinates the response. Exam tip: Name the centre and its location in every answer.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. The thermoregulatory centre in the brain leads to two inputs: receptors in the centre sense blood temperature, and it receives impulses from temperature receptors in the skin. Both inputs lead to a comparison with a set point of about 37 °C. From this comparison, two branches emerge: too hot leads to vasodilation and sweating, which leads to more heat lost; too cold leads to vasoconstriction, shivering and less sweating, which leads to more heat conserved. Both the more heat lost and more heat conserved branches lead to negative feedback returning temperature to the set point, which leads to enzymes kept at their optimum.
    Shows how the thermoregulatory centre in the brain gathers temperature information, coordinates cooling and warming responses, and uses negative feedback to keep enzymes at their optimum.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Negative feedback

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    Enzyme optimum

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Thermoregulatory centre

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Vasodilation

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Negative feedback
    A process in which responses change heat loss or heat production to bring temperature back to the set point.
    Enzyme optimum
    The temperature at which enzymes work best, kept stable by a stable temperature.
    Thermoregulatory centre
    The body's thermostat in the brain, which monitors body temperature and coordinates responses through the nervous system.
    Vasodilation
    A response triggered when too hot that widens vessels to lose heat.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. The thermoregulatory centre in the brain leads to two inputs: receptors in the centre sense blood temperature, and it receives impulses from temperature receptors in the skin. Both inputs lead to a comparison with a set point of about 37 °C. From this comparison, two branches emerge: too hot leads to vasodilation and sweating, which leads to more heat lost; too cold leads to vasoconstriction, shivering and less sweating, which leads to more heat conserved. Both the more heat lost and more heat conserved branches lead to negative feedback returning temperature to the set point, which leads to enzymes kept at their optimum.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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