Question

draw a negative feedback loop for maintaining homeostasis for thermoregulation where your body temperature is above the set point. in your drawing, include the stimulus, sensor, integrator, effector, and the arrows between the components to indicate how they all relate (be sure to indicate what each of these components are in your body, for example, what is your integrator). further, answer the following questions. what might be different between the response of an endothermic and an ectothermic animal in maintaining homeostasis?

Answer 1

A negative feedback loop for thermoregulation in humans involves a stimulus of increased body temperature, sensors (thermoreceptors), an integrator (hypothalamus), and effectors (sweat glands, blood vessels). Endothermic animals maintain a constant body temperature through internal regulation, while ectothermic animals rely on the environment. Maintaining homeostasis is vital for the health and stability of an organism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Negative Feedback Loop for Thermoregulation

When body temperature rises above the set point (typically around 37°C or 98.6°F for humans), the negative feedback loop for thermoregulation involves the following components:

• Stimulus: Increased body temperature above the set point.
• Sensor: Thermoreceptors in the skin and hypothalamus detect the rise in temperature.
• Integrator: The hypothalamus in the brain acts as the control center.
• Effector: Sweat glands in the skin and blood vessels that can dilate to release heat.

The excessive heat (stimulus) is detected by thermoreceptors (sensor), which signal to the hypothalamus (integrator). The hypothalamus then activates sweat glands (effector) to produce sweat, cooling the body through evaporation, and causes vasodilation to increase blood flow to the skin, releasing heat. As body temperature returns to normal, sensors send negative feedback to the hypothalamus to reduce sweating and return blood vessel dilation to normal.

Endothermic vs. Ectothermic Animals

In endothermic animals, such as humans, the body actively regulates and maintains a constant body temperature through internal processes, such as shivering or sweating. Conversely, ectothermic animals rely on external environmental conditions to regulate their body temperature. For example, a snake might bask in the sun to increase its body temperature or seek shade to cool down. Ectotherms might also change their behavior, such as burrowing, to achieve thermal regulation.

Homeostasis is critical for the survival of organisms, and the disturbance of homeostasis can lead to health issues or even death.