Temperature Regulation

Ectotherm

An animal that relies primarily on environmental heat sources to regulate its body temperature (e.g., reptiles).

Endotherm

An animal that generates internal metabolic heat to maintain a constant body temperature (e.g., mammals).

Internal Temp Receptors

Receptors in the hypothalamus that track core blood temperature to catch core internal errors (misalignment).

External Temp Receptors

Receptors in the skin that detect ambient air changes to anticipate temp shifts (disturbance).

Convection

Heat transfer via moving currents of air or liquid (e.g., a cool breeze blowing past skin).

Conduction

Direct heat transfer between two touching solid objects (e.g., sitting on a hot rock).

Evaporation

Heat loss as a liquid turns to gas (e.g., sweating cooling the skin).

Radiation

Heat transfer via infrared waves without direct contact (e.g., warmth from the sun).

Structural Adaptations

Physical body features that help regulate temperature (e.g., large ears on an elephant for cooling).

Physiological Adaptations

Internal, involuntary bodily functions that manage temperature (e.g., shivering or sweating).

Behavioural Adaptations

Actions an organism takes willingly to alter its temperature (e.g., moving into the shade or burrowing).

Counter-current Exchange

Parallel blood vessels flowing in opposite directions to trap heat inside the body core instead of losing it through the limbs.