5.2.16

Thermoregulation - Blood Vessels

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Thermoregulation - Blood Vessels

Blood vessels deep in the skin have layers of smooth muscle tissue in their walls. They respond differently when we are too hot or too cold.

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Too hot

  • If we are too hot, then the muscular walls relax.
  • This is called vasodilation.
  • This allows more blood to enter and flow through capillaries close to the skin surface. The excess heat energy is transferred to the surroundings.
Illustrative background for Too coldIllustrative background for Too cold ?? "content

Too cold

  • If we are too cold, then the muscular walls contract.
  • This is called vasoconstriction.
  • This reduces the blood flow to the skin surface and heat energy is kept inside the body.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

1.1What's in Cells?

1.2Cell Division

1.3Transport in Cells

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

5.1Homeostasis

5.2The Human Nervous System

5.3Hormonal Coordination in Humans

5.4Plant Hormones

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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