Question

*If you were to take the temperature of everyone in class, assuming no one is sick, you would find that not everyone has a temperature of 98.6��F. Which statement below best explains your findings?*

A) The measuring instrument is not working properly; everyone has a set point of 98.6��F.
B) Most regulated variables, such as temperature, fluctuate continuously and oscillate about the set point due to negative feedback control.
C) If the subject is not at 98.6��F then he or she is in a disease state.
D) An error signal has occurred and a positive feedback response has put the persons in question out of the normal range of function.

Answer 1

Not everyone having a temperature of exactly 98.6°F can be best explained by the normal fluctuation of regulated variables like temperature around a set point due to negative feedback control, meant to maintain homeostasis.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you were to take the temperature of everyone in class, assuming no one is sick, you would find that not everyone has a temperature of 98.6°F. The statement that best explains your findings is: B) Most regulated variables, such as temperature, fluctuate continuously and oscillate about the set point due to negative feedback control.

The concept of setpoint indicates that there is an optimum value for physiological variables, such as body temperature, which is usually considered to be around 98.6°F. However, it is normal for these variables to fluctuate within a limited range known as the normal range. These fluctuations are a result of the body's homeostasis mechanisms, particularly negative feedback regulation, which help maintain stability in internal conditions.

There could be small variations in individual's body temperatures due to various factors such as the time of day, level of physical activity, and individual metabolic differences, among others. These slight differences do not necessarily indicate a disease state or a malfunction of the body's regulatory systems.