Revise: Metabolism in conformers and regulatorsThermoregulation

Ways in which the body can stop overheating are:

• Vasodilation - where blood vessels allow blood to flow to skin surface where heat is lost.
• Increased sweat rate - heat is lost through turning sweat into vapour, which lowers body temperature.
• Decrease in metabolic rate - a lower metabolic rate produces less heat

Ways in which the body can increase temperature are:

• Vasoconstriction - blood vessels are restricted and blood flow to skin stops so less heat is lost.
• Hair erector muscles contract - hairs stand on end and trap an insulating layer of warmer air next to the skin.
• Shivering - skeletal muscles around the body repeatedly contract and this muscle activity generates heat.

Negative feedback control is the mechanism used to control the temperature of the body.