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The diagram shows a brain with the thermoregulatory centre labelled - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 6 - 2015 - Paper 1
Question 6
The diagram shows a brain with the thermoregulatory centre labelled. (a) (i) Complete the sentence by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your answer. The part ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The diagram shows a brain with the thermoregulatory centre labelled - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 6 - 2015 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Explain how the blood vessels in the skin help to control internal body temperature.
Answer
The thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature. When the body is hot, vasodilation occurs, which means that the blood vessels near the surface of the skin widen. This allows more blood to flow to the skin's surface, facilitating heat loss to the environment.
Conversely, when the body is cold, vasoconstriction occurs. The blood vessels narrow, reducing blood flow near the surface of the skin. This process conserves heat by minimizing heat loss to the environment.
Additionally, the shunt valve mechanism may also be involved, redirecting blood flow as needed to maintain internal body temperature effectively.