Question 44 – 5.2 The human nervous system - Questions

An investigation was carried out to study the human body's thermoregulatory response to an acute cold stimulus. The participant sat in a draft-free room maintained at a constant temperature of $24∘C24^\circ\text{C}$ . After $20$ minutes of rest, they ingested $cm3500\text{ cm}^3$ of an ice-slurry drink at $1∘C1^\circ\text{C}$ . Their core body temperature (measured via a tympanic thermometer near the brain) and their shivering intensity (measured in arbitrary units, a.u.) were monitored over a $60$ -minute period.

The results showed:

From $0$ to $20$ minutes, the core body temperature remained constant at $37.0∘C37.0^\circ\text{C}$ , and the shivering intensity was stable at a baseline level of $a.u.0.0\text{ a.u.}$
Shortly after consuming the cold drink at minute $20$ , the core body temperature decreased, reaching a minimum of $36.4∘C36.4^\circ\text{C}$ at minute $32$ , before returning to $37.0∘C37.0^\circ\text{C}$ by minute $50$ .
Shivering intensity increased from $a.u.0.0\text{ a.u.}$ to a peak of $a.u.5.5\text{ a.u.}$ at minute $35$ , before gradually returning to its baseline.

Questions:

State why it is important that the participant remained seated and inactive throughout the entire $60$ minutes of the investigation.

Explain why the core body temperature measured near the brain decreased shortly after drinking the ice-slurry drink.

Explain how the change in shivering intensity between $20$ minutes and $35$ minutes helps to return the internal body temperature back to its normal level.

The results showed:

From $0$ to $20$ minutes, the core body temperature remained constant at $37.0∘C37.0^\circ\text{C}$ , and the shivering intensity was stable at a baseline level of $a.u.0.0\text{ a.u.}$
Shortly after consuming the cold drink at minute $20$ , the core body temperature decreased, reaching a minimum of $36.4∘C36.4^\circ\text{C}$ at minute $32$ , before returning to $37.0∘C37.0^\circ\text{C}$ by minute $50$ .
Shivering intensity increased from $a.u.0.0\text{ a.u.}$ to a peak of $a.u.5.5\text{ a.u.}$ at minute $35$ , before gradually returning to its baseline.

Questions:

State why it is important that the participant remained seated and inactive throughout the entire $60$ minutes of the investigation.

Explain why the core body temperature measured near the brain decreased shortly after drinking the ice-slurry drink.

Explain how the change in shivering intensity between $20$ minutes and $35$ minutes helps to return the internal body temperature back to its normal level.

5.2 The human nervous system

Question 33

5.2 The human nervous system

Question 33

5.2 The human nervous system

Question 33

5.2 The human nervous system Questions

5.2 The human nervous system

Question 33

5.2 The human nervous system Questions