CHAPTER

15
HOMEOSTASIS

Short Questions
Q.1. What do you mean by homeostasis?
Ans. Homeostasis:
The protection of internal environment from the harms of fluctuations of external environment is
termed as homeostasis.
Importance of Homeostasis:
i. Homeostasis keeps the internal fluctuations in a narrow range with various control system
compared to wider external environment.
ii. Homeostasis is the central requirement in the maintenance of an organism, which make
'adaptations in the constant changing conditions and contributes in evolutionary process.
Q.2. Differentiate between osmoregulation and thermoregulation.
Ans. Osmoregulation
 To maintain the water and salt balance in the body within a narrow range is called Osmoregulation.
 Water cone in Blood Plasma is almost 90%.
Thermoregulation
 The maintenance of internal body temperature within a tolerable range is called thermoregulation.
 Example: Human core body temperature is maintained at 36.1°C TO 37.8°C.
Q.3. Compare hypertonic environment and hypotonic environment.
Ans. Hypertonic
 Environment which has lower solutes as compared to the cell concentration is known as Hypotonic.
 Hypotonic environment osmotically causes entry of water into the cell and renders the cell
solutions diluted.
Hypotonic
 Environment which is concentrated (higher solute) as compared to the cell concentration is known
as Hypertonic.
 Hypertonic environment renders cell solutions concentrated and shrinks the cell due to loss of
water from the cell.
Q.4. Discuss the process of osmoregulation in mesophytes.
Ans. Osmoregulation in Mesophytes:
 These plants have moderate water availability.
 In sufficient supply of water, stomata are kept open to promote loss of excess water.
 In restricted supply stomata close to prevent the water loss.
Q.5. Write two adaptations of hydrophytes.
Ans. Hydrophytes:
 Hydrophytes are plants which live in [Link] parts of the plants are within the water and
upper parts are outside the water.
Adaptations of Hydrophytes:
 Hydrophytes have following adaptations to remove the flooding of cells in fresh water. Large
surfaces area of leaves to promote excessive transpiration.
 Extensive stomata on upper surfaces of leaves to promote loss of water.
Q.6. Give the characteristics of xerophytic plants.
OR Discuss Adaptation in Xerophytes.
OR What different adaptations have been made by xerophytes to limit water loss?
Ans. Characteristics of Xerophytes:
 The plants grow in short supply of water such as in deserts and have following features to minimize
water loss.
 Have small thick leaves to minimize surface area proportional to volume for transpiration.
 Have thick, waxy, leathery cuticle.
 Stomata are on lower surface and located in depressions.
 Have spongy succulent stem to store water.
 Some cacti, during driest season, shed their leaves to restrict transpiration completely.
 Examples: Cactus, Euphorbia, Opuntia.
Q.7. Explain the role of contractile vacuole in Amoeba.
Ans. Role of Contractile Vacuole in Amoeba:
 In freshwater Protozoa like Amoeba and Paramecium contractile vacuoles pumps out excess water
from their body, so it helps in osmoregulation in Amoeba.
Q.8. Differentiate between osmoconformers and osmoregulators.
Ans. Osmoconformers
 These animals do not require actively to adjust their internal environment and are isotonic to
external environment are called osmoconformers.
 These animals live in isotonic environment.
 Examples: Marine invertebrates, hag fishes etc.
Osmoregulators
 These animals actively regulate to discharge excess of water hypotonic environment and excrete
salts in hypertonic environment.
 These animals live in hypotonic or hypertonic environment.
 Examples: Bony fishes, terrestrial animals etc
Q.9. How Camoregulation takes place in marine Environment?
Ans. Osmoregulation in Marine Environment:
1. Osmoregulation in Cartilaginous Fishes:
 Marine cartilaginous fish maintain low salt concentration then sea water.
 They excrete salts through kidneys, gills and rectal glands by using active transport mechanism and
maintain their Internal Hypotonic Conditions.
2. Osmoregulation in Bony Fishes:
 The ancestors of bony fishes have fresh water habitat but some have adapted to live in sea water.
Such fishes cannot prevent the loss of water because they have hypotonic body as are evolved in
fresh water.
 To maintain water inside, such fishes drink large amount of sea water and excrete concentrated
urine resulting in maximum salt excretion and minimum waterloss.
Q.10. Why do marine fishes retain trimethylamine oxide in their body?
Ans. Marine Fishes Retain Trimethylamine Oxide in Their Body:
 The gills or marine fishes actively excrete salts. For this purpose their gills have special salt secreting
glands.
 They also possess salt excreting organs such as rectal glands.
 Gills and rectal gland use active transport mechanism to remove salt against osmotic gradient in
this way they maintain their internal hypotonic conditions.
 Some fishes have relatively low salts in body fluids but made their body hypertonic to
that of sea water by retaining urea in adequate concentration.
 Because urea in high concentration is damaging so these fishes retain another chemical,
trimethylamine oxide (TMO), for protection against urea, that's why marine fishes retain TMO in
their body.
Q.11. How arthropods and mammals overcome the problem of evaporative water loss?
Ans. Adaptions in Arthropods and Mammals to Overcome the Loss of Water:
 The evaporative loss of water leading to dehydration is the major problem for terrestrial life.
 Arthropods and vertebrates have successfully adapted to terrestrial mode of life.
 Terrestrial animals are covered by body surface, which prevents loss of water.
 Waxy exoskeleton of insects prevent them from loss of water.
 Multiplayer Dead, Keratinized skin cells of most terrestrial vertebrates help them to prevent water
loss.
Q.12. What is meant by anhydrobiosis? Quote example.
Ans. Anhydrobiosis: (An= without, hydro = water, Bio = life, sis = process)
 It is the ability of some terrestrial animals to tolerate dehydration condition. It differs in different
animals.
 Example:Tardigrade contains 85% water in hydrated state and 2% water in dry form but remains
alive in inactive state.
Q.13. why leaves are said to be excretophores?
OR Briefly describe the excretory role of leaves and stem in plants.
OR Can we consider skin as an excretory organ?
OR What are excretophore?
Ans. Leaves as Excretophore:
 The waste materials are accumulated in leaves during the whole year and they become yellow.
 The falling of yellow leaves in autumn is the seasonal time for the plants to get rid of the
accumulated wastes and because of this reason leaves are said to be excretophore.
Q.14 Which nitrogenous waster are produced by the metabolism of purine and pyrimidine?
OR Enlist any four nitrogenous wastes produced as a result of purine and pyrimidine metabolism.
Ans. Metabolic Products of Purine and Pyrimidine:
 Metabolism of purine and pyrimidine bases produces significant amount of nitrogenous wastes of
hypoxanthine, xanthenes, uric acid, allantoin, urea and ammonia.
Q.15 Compare the nitrogen excreted in lower quantities with the one excreted in very small quantities.
Ans. Nitrogen Excreted in Lower Quantities and in very small quantities:
 Elevated levels of these wastes can cause convulsions, coma and eventually death.
 Mostly excess nitrogen is excreted by animals as ammonia, urea, or uric acid.
 Lower qualities of nitrogen are excreted in the form of their compounds such as creatinine,
creatine, or trimethylamine oxide (TMO)
 In very small quantities of nitrogen excreted as amino acids, purines and pyrimidines.
Q.16 Differentiate between protonephridium and metanephredium.
Ans. Protonephridia
 These are excretory structures present in Planaria which have only external openings but have
openings.
 In this system fluid enters the tubules through capped cells called Flame cells.
 Due to the beating of cilia of flame cells, fluid enters and passes out through the tubules by pores
called Nephridiopore.
 Beating of cilia of flame cells seems as flickering flame of candle, so are termed as flame cells.
Metanephridia
 These are the excretory tubules present in Earthworms, usually two per segment.
 These have an internal ciliated opening called nephrostome and an external opening called
 Nephridiopore.
 Coelomic fluid enters through nephrostome, useful substances are reabsorbed in the tubules and
wastes are excreted out through the Nephridiopore.
Q.17 What is flame cell, give its function?
Ans. Flame Cells:
 A protonephridium is a network of closed tubules without internal openings in planaria. Tubular
system is spread throughout the body and branches are capped by a cellular setup termed as flame
cell.
 Each flame cell has tuft of cilia. The beating of cilia propel interstitial fluid into the tubular system
 The beating of cilia looks like a flickering flame, therefore these cells are termed as flame cells.
 The tubular system is drained into excretory ducts, which open to the exterior through
nephridiopores.
Q.18 Animals excrete nitrogenous wastes with digestive feces. Give example and significance of this
adaptation.
Ans. Animals excrete nitrogenous wastes with digestive faces:
 Birds, reptiles, and most terrestrial arthropods, such as insects, are called uricothelic organisms
because they convert toxic ammonia to uric acid or the closely-related compound guanine (guano),
rather than urea.
 In contrast, mammals (including humans) produce urea from ammonia; however, they also form
some uric acid.
 In this case, uric acid is excreted in urine instead of in feces because in these organism the opening
for excretory waste and undigested waste is common it is also done in birds and reptiles.
Q.19 Differentiate between ureotelic and uricotelic animals.
OR Differentiate between ammonotelic and uricotelic animals. Give examples.
Ans. Ureotelic
 Animals which excrete nitrogenous waste in the form of urea.
 They need 50 ml of water for the excretion of 1g of nitrogen in the from of urea.
 Examples: Mammals, amphibians etc.
Uricotelic
 Animals which excrete their nitrogenous wastes in the form of uric acid are called uricotelic
 animals.
 They need 1 ml of water for excretion of 1g of nitrogen in the form of uric acid.
 Examples: Birds, insects etc.
Q.2O What is the evolutionary importance of ureotely and uricotely?
Ans. Evolutionary Importance of Ureotely and Uricotely:
 Evolution of ureotely and uricotely is an important adaptation for animals to inhabit in areas of
short supply of water, such as land, especially deserts.
Q.21 What are "Malpighian Tubules"? In which organism they are found?
Ans. Melpighian Tubules:
 In terrestrial Arthropods, particularly insects, the excretory structures are adapted to collect
excretory products from hemolymph through suspended tubular structures called Malpighian
tubules.
 Malpighian tubules remove nitrogenous wastes from the hemolymph.
 Malpigian tubules are located at the junction of the midgut and hindgut.
 They are originated from the anterior part of small intestine.
Q.22 Skin does not come within the definition of excretory organ. Comments.
Ans. Role of Skin:
 Removal of salts with water by the sweat glands and of sebum by sebaceous glands seems to be
excretory in nature.
 But the removal of water and salts from sweat glands is for the purpose of thermoregulation.
 The removal of sebum on the skin is for protection against microorganisms.
 Therefore in context of definition of excretion, skin may not be considered as an excretory organ.
Q.23 Write two important functions of Liver.
Ans. Major Homeostatic Functions Of Liver
Functions
Synthesis:
 Nitrogenous wastes: NH3, urea, uric acid
 Plasma proteins:
(a) Prothrombin, fibrinogen
(b) Albumin
Detoxification
Many harmful chemicals e.g. food additives, pesticides, drugs etc.
Major effects on homeostasis
 Support kidney in waste disposal.
(a) Blood clotting.
(b) Maintain osmotic balance of blood.
Q.24 What is the function of bile?
Ans. Function of Bile:
 It is produced in liver and temporarily stored in gall-bladder.
 The bile salts help to emulsify the fats in small in testine.
 So it helps in the digestion of fats.
Q.25 Define Nephron. Give its types.
Ans. Nephron:
 The functional units of kidney are nephrons. There are millions of nephrons in human kidneys.
 In human kidney, nephrons are arranged along two distinct regions, and outer cortex and an inner
medulla.
Types of Nephrons:
i. Cortical Nephrons: The nephrons in cortex region are called as cortical nephrons.
ii. Juxtamedullary Nephrons:
 The nephrons present in the border of cortex and medulla called juxtamedullary nephrons.
 The juxtamedullary nephrons play a special role in the production of concentrated urine.
 Bowman's capsule of Juxtamedullary nephrons is located in cortex region.
Q.26 Differentiate between ureter and urethra.
Ans. Ureters
 Urine leaves the kidney through ducts called ureters.
 Pair of ureters in prèsent in human urinary system.
Urethra
 Urine leaves the body during urination, from the bladder through a tube called urethra.
 Single urethra is present in human urinary system.
Q.27 What is Vasa recta?
Ans. Vasa recta:
 In juxtamedullary nephrons, an additional network of capillaries extend down to form a loop of
vessels called vasa [Link] recta are absent in cortical nephrons.
Q.28 What is glomerulus? Differentiate afferent arteriole from efferent arteriole.
Ans. Glomerulus:
 A ball of capillaries embedded within the Bowman's capsule is called glomerulus.
It is the place of filtration.
 Glomerulus circulates blood through capsule as it arrives through afferent leaves the capsule by
efferent arterioles.
Afferent Arteriole
 Blood arrives the glomerulus. through afferent arterioles.
 It provides the blood to glomerules for filteration.
 It is derived from renal artery.
 Efferent Arteriole
 Blood leaves the glomerulus through efferent arterioles.
 It provides the blood to peritubular capillaries and vasa recta for reabsorption of useful substance.
 It is derived from glomerulus.
Q.29. What is glomerular filtrate?
Ans. Glomerular Filtrate:
 The filtrate appearing in glomerulus is called as Glomerular filtrate.
 It contains many useful substances such as glucose, amino acids, salts etc. in aqueous solution.
Q.3o. Enlist the three steps in urine formation in human.
OR Give the significance of tubular secretion in fiterate.
OR By What phenomenon organisms adapt wide range of habitats? Give its any two examples.
Ans. Three Steps in Urine Formation in Human: The urine formation is played in three steps:
(i) Filteration (ii) Reabsorption (iii) Secretion
(i) Filteration:
Blood passing through glomerulus is filtered into Bowman's capsule.
(ii) Reabsorption:
 All the useful substances in the glomerular filtrate are reabsorbed in proximal tubules.
 When filtrate leaves the proximal tubules, it mostly contains nitrogenous wastes.
(iii) Secretion:
 The tubular epithelium of nephron also secretes substances into the lumen.
 This secretion is very selective and is mainly of hydrogen ions (H-ion) to balance PH
value of the filtrate passing through the tubule.
 Now filtrate is composed of mainly waste materials especially urea, so it is called urine.
Q.31. What is counter current multiplier?
Ans. Counter Current Multiplier:
 It is mechanism in kidneys which causes gradual osmotic outflow of water from the
filtrate back to kidney as it passes downward in the descending loop of Henle.
 Furthermore, ascending limb does not allow outflow of water and actively transports Na+ ions into
kidney interstitium, to sustain its high concentration. This mechanism is called counter current
because the filtrate flow is opposite in direction in descending and ascending limbs as a result the
urine concentration is increased.
Q.32. Differentiate between re-absorption and secretion in nephron.
Ans. Reabsorption
 All the useful substances in the glomerular filtrate are reabsorbed in proximal [Link]
phemenon is termed as reabsorption.
 When filtrate leaves the proximal tubules it mostly contains nitrogenous wastes.
Secretion
 The tubular epithelium of nephron secretes substances into the lumen.
 This secretion is very selective and is mainly of hydrogen ions (H , ion) to balance pH value of the
filtrate passing through the tubule.
Q.33. Describe role of aldosteron and anti diuretic hormone in kidney.
OR How do aldosterone and ADH help in concentration of urine?
Ans. Action of Aldosterone in Kidney:
 The active uptake of sodium ions in the ascending limb or thick loop of Henle is promoted by the
action of aldosterone.
 Aldosterone is secreted from adrenal cortex. This hormone increases the permeability of ascending
limb for sodium ions.
Action of ADH (Anti-Diuretic Hormone) is Kidney:
 ADH is primarily involved in water reabsorption from the kidneys during dehydration.
 ADH released from posterior pituitary lobe acts, to actively transport water from collecting tubules
back to kidneys.
Q.34. What is hypercalcemia and hyperoxaluria write its effects?
Ans. Hypercalcemia:
 Mean high level of circulating calcium in blood because of other diseases.
Hyperoxaluria:
 Mean higher blood level of oxalates.
 It contributes in the formation of calcium oxalate stones.
(Correct term for higher blood oxalate is "Hyperoxalemia")
 Oxalates are present in green vegetables and tomatoes, therefore these may be the source of
hyperoxaluria.
 Incidence of calcium oxalate type stones are 70% of all the kidney stones.
 These salts are precipitated out during urine formation and accumulate later to form stone.
Q.35. What is Lithotripsy?
Ans. Lithotripsy:
 It is the technique used to break up stones in the kidney, ureter or gall bladder.
 In this technique high concentration of X-rays or ultrasound are directed from a machine outside
the body to the stone inside.
 The stone breaks into tiny pieces or into sand which are passed out in urine.
Q.36. State renal failure.
Ans. Renal Failure:
 Various factors of pathological and chemical nature may progressively destroy the nephron,
particularly its glomerular part.
 As a result of which glomerulec fails to perform its normal function which is called
rental failure.
 This results in increase of the plasma level of urea and other nitrogenous wastes.
 The rise in urea causes complications of hypertension and anemia, etc. these things
contribute to renal failure.
 In chronic renal failure. The function of the kidney is lost completely and now it can never remove
nitrogenous wastes.
Q.37. Define Dialysis. Give its types.
Ans. Dialysis:
 The passive diffusion of waste substances across an artificial semipermeable
membrane is called dialysis.
 To remove nitrogenous wastes particularly the urea, the blood of the patient is treated through
dialysis.
 Dialysis cleans the blood either by passing blood through an artificial kidney or by filtering it within
abdomen.
 The wastes and excess water are removed during the treatment as being done by the healthy
kidneys.
 Types of dialysis: There are two types of dialysis:
 Hemodialysis (ii) Peritoneal dialysis
Q.38. Differentiate between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
OR Conclude whether hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis is better than the other one.
Ans. Hemodialysis
 Hemodialysis means cleaning the blood. In this procedure blood is circulated through a machine
which contains a dialyzer also called an artificial kidney.
 Dialyzer has two spaces separated by thin membrane.
 Blood passes from one side of the membrane and dialysis fluid on the other.
 The wastes and excess water pass from the blood though the membrane into the dialysis fluid.
Peritoneal Dialysis
 Peritoneal dialysis work on the same principle except that abdomen has peritoneal cavity, lined by a
thin epithelium called peritoneum.
  Peritoneal cavity is filled with dialysis fluid that enters the body through a catheter.
 Excess water and wastes pass through the peritoneum into the dialysis fluid. This process is
repeated several times in a day.
Q.39. Define uremia. What is its permanent treatment?
OR How level of urea and metabolic wastes increases in human body?
Ans. Uremia:
 It is a condition in which both the kidneys completely fail to perform their [Link] the
surgical transplantation of a matching donor kidney is the only option left as the permanent
treatment.
Permanent Treatment of uremia:
 In high degree renal failure called as uremia (U) or end-stage renal disease, the dialysis cannot be
done.
Q.40. What are heat-shock Proteins?
Ans. Heat-Shock Protines:
Most plants have adapted to survive heat stress as the plants of temperate region face the
stress of 40°C and above temperature.
The cells of these plants synthesize large quantities of special proteins called Heat shock
[Link] proteins embrace (surround) enzymes and other proteins thus help to prevent
denaturation.
Q.41. Account one each main adaptation in plants to high and low temperature.
OR When are ice crystals formed in plant protoplast? How plants avoid such situation.
Ans. Adaptations in Plants to Face High Temperature
 Plants use evaporative cooling to manage with high temperature.
 The cells of these plants synthesize large quantities of special proteins called Heat shock
[Link] proteins embrace (surround) enzymes and other proteins thus help to prevent
denaturation.
Adaptation in Plants to Face Low Temperature
 Plants respond to cold stress by increasing proportion of (5) unsaturated fatty acids, which help
membranes to maintain structure at low temperature by preventing crystal formation.
 Plants native to colder regions make their sytosole super-cool to prevent crystal formation.
Q.42. Differentiate between Poikilotherms and homeotherms.
Ans. Poikilotherms (Cold blooded)
 These are animals in which body temperature fluctuate more or less with ambient temperature,
where air or water temperatures are changed.
 They do not have the ability to maintain their body temperature within narrow range.
 These were called cold blooded animas previously.
 Examples: All invertebrates, Fishes, Amphibians poikilotherms. and Reptiles are poikilotherms.
Homeotherms (Warm blooded)
 There are animals in which body temperature does not change with changing air or water
temperature.
 They have the ability to maintain their body temperature and are narrow range.
 These animals maintain their body Temperature and are called homeotherms.
 Previously these were called aswarm blooded animals.
 Examples: Birds and Mammals are homeotherms.
Q.43. Differentiate between ectotherms and endotherms.
Ans. Ectotherms
 Ectotherms are animals that produce metabolic heat at low level and that is
Also exchange quickly with environment.
 They rely more on heat derived from the environment to raise their body temperature.
 Example:Most invertebrates Fish, Amphibians and reptiles.
 Endotherms
 Endotherms arc produce their own body heat through heat production as by product during
metabolism in muscles or by the action of hormones that increase metabolic rate & maintain their
internal body temperature.
 Example: Birds and Mammals.
Q.44. What are Physiological adaptation of heat exchange in animals.
Ans. Physiological Adaptations:
 Animals regulate the blood flow to the skin in warmth to dissipate heat and minimize the blood
flow to the skin in colds to economize heat loss.
 Activation of certain muscles for plumage fluffing.
 Activation of sweat glands for evaporative cooling.
Q.45. Define Panting with one example.
Ans. Panting:
 The extensive respiratory activity in dogs which causes evaporative cooling is called panting. The
lungs of dog are modified for panting.
Q.46. What are behavioural adoptations to regulate heat exchange between animals and
environment?
Ans. Behavioural Adaptations:
 Movement of animals such as ground squirrels to burrows in mid day during hot summer heat.
 Lizards bask in sun to gain heat.
 Animals also control the amount of surface area available for heat exchange by adjusting their
postures.
Q.47. How land animals trap a thick layer of air around the body? Give its significance.
Ans. Land Animals Trap a Thick Layer of Air Around the Body:
 Birds use feathers, and most mammals use hair or fur, to trap a layer of air next to the skin and
reduce heat transfer to the environment.
 Marine mammals like whales use bubbler, a thick layer of fat, as a heavy-duty form of
insulation which protect them from severe cold.
Q.48. How mammals thermoregulate in cold environment?
Ans. Thermoregulation In Mammals In Cold Environment
 Vasodilatation and vasoconstriction Guru affect heat exchange and may contribute to regional
temperature differences with in an animal.
 Most land mammals respond to cold by raising their furs there by trapping the thicker layer of still
air and it act as good insulator between animal skin and the surroundings.
 Human mostly rely on a layer of fat just beneath the skin as insulating material against.
 Similarly marine mammals such as whales and seris have a very thick layer of Insulating fat called
blubber just under that skin.
Q.49. What is blubber? Write its function.
OR How animals Inhabitant of cold marine water maintain body heat? Give examples.

Ans. Blubber:
 The marine mammals like whales and seals have thick layer of insulating fats called blubber. The
blubber is present under the skin.
 Blubber insulates the body, so marine mammals can live in much colder than their body
temperature.
 Example: Whale
Q.50. Differentiate between shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis.
Ans. Shivering Thermogenesis
 The rate of heat production is increased by increased muscle contraction by movement or shivering
so called as shivering thermogenesis. thermogenesis.
 Due to shivering of muscles, ATP breaks and heat is generated to maintain body temperature.
 Non-Shivering Thermogenesis
 Some hormones such as thyroxin produced from thyroid gland, trigger the heat production it is
called non-shivering thermogenesis.
 In this type of heat production thyroxin hormone causes the increase in metabolic activity so ATP
energy and heat are produced and body temperature is maintained.
Q.51. Differentiate between vasodilation and Vasoconstriction.
Ans. Vasodilation
 In vasodilation, skin blood vessels dilate as a result capillaries fill with warm blood; heat radiates
from skin surface.
Vasoconstriction
 In vasoconstriction, skin blood vessels constrict, diverting blood from skin to deeper tissues and
reducing heat loss from Skin Surface.
Q.52. Describe thermostat function and feedback controls in human.
Ans. Thermostat Function and Feedback Control In Human:
The homeostatic thermostat is present in hypothalamus. It responds to the changes in temperature
above and below a set point which is 37 Co.
i. In High Temperaure:
 Blood flow to the skin in increased to dissipate heat.
 Sweat glands are activated for evaporative cooling.
ii. In Low Temperature:
 Constriction of superficial blood vessels of skin.
 Shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis.
Q.53. How negative feedback mechanism helps body to regulate temperature?
Ans. Negative Feedback Mechanism Helps Body to Regulate Temperature:
 The body temperature regulation in human is based on complex homeostatic systems facilitated by
feedback mechanisms.
 The homeostatic thermostat is food in the hypothalamus (a part of fore brain). It responds to the
changes in the temperature above and below a set point which is 37°C.
Response in Case of Higher Temperature:
 In case of increase in temperature above the set point, certain warm temperature sensitive
thermoreceptor in skin, hypothalamus and other parts of nervous system send the signals to the
system.
 The system increases the blood flow to the skin and also causes sweat gland activation.
 Then the sweat is evaporated for cooling.
 Response in Case of Low Temperature:
 In cold temperature, the cold receptors send the impulses to hypothalamus to inhibit heat loss
mechanisms includes constriction of superficial blood vessels and stimulating shivering and non-
shivering mechanisms, of heat generation.
Q.54. What are pyrogens and Pyrexia?
OR Why does temperature of the body increase during fever?
OR How temperature in fever is useful for human body?
Ans. Pyrogens and Pyrexia Reason to Increase Body Temperature During Fever:
Pyrogens:
 In bacterial and viral infectious mainly, leukocytes increase in number. These pathogens and blood
cells produce chemicals called as pyrogens.
Pyrexia:
 Pyrogens displace the set point of hypothalamus above the normal point 37°C which is called
pyrexia.
 Fever or high temperature helps in stimulating the protective mechanisms against the pathogens.