Question

Choose the false statement about temperature regulation:

a. Some aspects of fever are beneficial.
b. Fever is induced by pyrogens.
c. Vasoconstriction of blood vessels in skin will tend to conserve heat.
d. Heat producing mechanisms (raised metabolic rate) which occur when you are in a cold environment are primarily parasympathetic.
e. Aspirin and acetaminophen reduce fever by inhibiting synthesis of prostaglandins so the body's "thermostat" located in the hypothalamus is reset.

Answer 1

The false statement is that heat-producing mechanisms in a cold environment are primarily parasympathetic; it is the sympathetic nervous system that's responsible. (option d)

Step-by-step explanation:

The false statement about temperature regulation is that heat-producing mechanisms (raised metabolic rate) which occur when you are in a cold environment are primarily parasympathetic. This is incorrect because the sympathetic nervous system, not the parasympathetic, is responsible for heat-producing mechanisms such as shivering and increased metabolism when the body is cold. In contrast, the parasympathetic system is more often associated with conserving energy and promoting digestion.

The hypothalamus is crucial in regulating body temperature. It does so through vasoconstriction of blood vessels in the skin to conserve heat, or vasodilation and sweating to lose excess heat. During a fever, pyrogens reset the hypothalamic thermostat to a higher temperature to combat infection. Medications like aspirin and acetaminophen help reduce fever by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, effectively resetting the hypothalamic thermostat to a lower temperature.