Thermoregulation is like the body's own thermostat—it keeps your body temperature stable even if the weather outside is swinging between a desert heatwave and the Arctic tundra. Animals like birds and mammals, including humans, have a 'set point' temperature they strive to maintain. Negative feedback mechanisms help keep everything chill (or warm, as needed!).

What is Thermoregulation?

• 🌡️ Thermoregulation: Control of core body temperature around a set point.

• 🐦 Birds and 🦊 mammals, including 👫 humans, are thermoregulators.

• 🕒 The set point may change based on time of day or year, but the body always aims for stability.

  Real-world Example: Think of a thermostat in a smart home that adjusts temperature automatically based on the time of day—cooler at night, warmer in the morning.

• 🔄 Negative Feedback: The body self-corrects based on internal conditions.

• ❄️ If too cold, the body will generate more heat.

• 🔥 If too hot, the body will shed heat.

  Real-world Example: It's like cruise control on a car! If you're going too slow, the car speeds up. Going too fast? The car slows down to your set speed.

• 🧠 Located in both the skin and deep inside the body, including in the brain's hypothalamus.

• Two types

  Real-world Example: These are like weather sensors that tell the home thermostat whether to ramp up the heating or cooling.

• Cold Thermoreceptors: Triggered by low temps
• Warm Thermoreceptors: Triggered by high temps