Work
During this project my group and I chose a function of the body that is essential for homeostasis to research. Our task was to design and run an experiment that demonstrated a human body's tendency to return to a state of homeostasis. We chose thermoregulation, or how the body maintains a healthy temperature. Our experiment was to lower our subject's, Jada's, body temperature by having her stand in a bucket of ice water for short time and then compare her temperature when she was in the bucket to around five minutes after. If her temperature had risen back to or above normal, then homeostasis was proven. Our research article provides more detail below.
Thermoregulation In the Human Body
Abstract: The instructions were to develop and run an experiment which tested thermoregulation in the human body. In the this test it was assumed that the human body would react to a lower body temperature by trying to produce and contain heat. It does this because the body needs to be above 95℉ in order to avoid hypothermia. If the body temperature gets low enough the person starts losing functions and will eventually die. In the experiment a subject’s body temperature was lowered and how the body changed its temperature was examined. When the subject went inside and it was discovered that the subject overcorrected their temperature when they went inside, this revealed that their body was trying to produce heat in order to maintain homeostasis. When the subject was outside the temperature was cold and the subject had to conserve/produce heat, but when the subject was inside they were being heated up on top of the fact that their body was still producing heat. This is what caused the subject to overcorrect their temperature in our testing and proves that our claim that the body reacts to contain/produce heat in order to maintain homeostasis.
Introduction:
Homeostasis is the body reacting to stimulus to maintain a stable environment between different systems in the body. Our body reacts to the stimulus of cold temperatures by shivering, closing the pores of the sweat glands, or goose bumps, and compressing our blood vessels to retain heat. This is the body addressing the cold temperature by trying to retain heat in order to keep a warm body temperature which allows the body to maintain homeostasis. A normal body temperature is 98.6℉, and hypothermia occurs in the body when the temperature is lower than 95℉. Symptoms of a low body temperature include shivering, slurred speech/mumbling, slow breathing, a weak pulse, clumsiness/ lack of coordination, drowsiness/very low energy, confusion, and loss of conscience. The only symptom observed in our test was shivering, but if we had tested for longer there may have been more noticeable symptoms as temperature lowered. Our original hypothesis was that if we lower our body temperature, then our body will react by bring the temperature back to normal over time. Hormones such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and thyroid hormone increase the metabolic rate by stimulating the breakdown of fat.
Materials/Methods:
During our first trial, the test subjects in door starting temperature was 98℉. When the subject had the cool down stage, her temperature was 97.2℉. Five minutes later when the subject was back inside, her temperature had risen to 97.8℉. On our second trial, the subject’s temperature dropped from 98℉ to 95℉. After waiting five minutes inside, the subject was back at 97.3℉. During our final trial, the test subject had their temperature drop from 98℉ to 96.6℉. The subject warmed up to 98.4℉ when she went back inside.
Discussion and Conclusion:
For this project, our hypothesis was proven correct. Our data shows that the human body reacts to cold temperatures by producing more heat in order to keep the body warm. In our testing the subject heated up extremely quickly after going back inside. This shows that the body is reacting by heating up and keeping in heat. The data proves homeostasis because when the test subject was put in a cold environment, their temperature went down, but once out of the environment their temperature went above normal to regulate the body back to a normal level. One error that could have been made was that we may not have taken the subject’s temperature precisely the right time after they were done being cooled down. One thing that we did well was that we understood well what the data means in the context of our project. Some other testing that should be done on thermoregulation is testing how a body reacts to extreme heat.
Works Cited:
Rayon, Mr. “Thermoregulation Activity/Experiment.” Science Forums, 4 May 2009, www.scienceforums.net/topic/37403-thermoregulation-activityexperiment/.
“Hypothermia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothermia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352682.
Rosenthaul, Martha. "Temperature Regulation." Biology Reference. 2019. 28 Jan. 2019 <http://www.biologyreference.com/Ta-Va/Temperature-Regulation.html>.
During this project my group and I chose a function of the body that is essential for homeostasis to research. Our task was to design and run an experiment that demonstrated a human body's tendency to return to a state of homeostasis. We chose thermoregulation, or how the body maintains a healthy temperature. Our experiment was to lower our subject's, Jada's, body temperature by having her stand in a bucket of ice water for short time and then compare her temperature when she was in the bucket to around five minutes after. If her temperature had risen back to or above normal, then homeostasis was proven. Our research article provides more detail below.
Thermoregulation In the Human Body
Abstract: The instructions were to develop and run an experiment which tested thermoregulation in the human body. In the this test it was assumed that the human body would react to a lower body temperature by trying to produce and contain heat. It does this because the body needs to be above 95℉ in order to avoid hypothermia. If the body temperature gets low enough the person starts losing functions and will eventually die. In the experiment a subject’s body temperature was lowered and how the body changed its temperature was examined. When the subject went inside and it was discovered that the subject overcorrected their temperature when they went inside, this revealed that their body was trying to produce heat in order to maintain homeostasis. When the subject was outside the temperature was cold and the subject had to conserve/produce heat, but when the subject was inside they were being heated up on top of the fact that their body was still producing heat. This is what caused the subject to overcorrect their temperature in our testing and proves that our claim that the body reacts to contain/produce heat in order to maintain homeostasis.
Introduction:
Homeostasis is the body reacting to stimulus to maintain a stable environment between different systems in the body. Our body reacts to the stimulus of cold temperatures by shivering, closing the pores of the sweat glands, or goose bumps, and compressing our blood vessels to retain heat. This is the body addressing the cold temperature by trying to retain heat in order to keep a warm body temperature which allows the body to maintain homeostasis. A normal body temperature is 98.6℉, and hypothermia occurs in the body when the temperature is lower than 95℉. Symptoms of a low body temperature include shivering, slurred speech/mumbling, slow breathing, a weak pulse, clumsiness/ lack of coordination, drowsiness/very low energy, confusion, and loss of conscience. The only symptom observed in our test was shivering, but if we had tested for longer there may have been more noticeable symptoms as temperature lowered. Our original hypothesis was that if we lower our body temperature, then our body will react by bring the temperature back to normal over time. Hormones such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and thyroid hormone increase the metabolic rate by stimulating the breakdown of fat.
Materials/Methods:
- Materials
- Bucket of ice water
- Thermometer
- Timer
- Spray bottle
- Methods
- Put on shorts and a tank top
- Take your temperature
- Go outside when it is around 55℉ with your bucket of ice water
- Set a timer for 3 minutes
- Step into the ice bucket and start timer
- Spray the person standing in the bucket occasionally throughout the 3 minutes
- Step out of the ice bucket and take temperature immediately when timer finithe subjects
- Take temperature five minutes after that. If there is no significant rise in temperature, wait five minutes and take it again
- Once the subject has returned to normal body temperature, repeat this process two more times
During our first trial, the test subjects in door starting temperature was 98℉. When the subject had the cool down stage, her temperature was 97.2℉. Five minutes later when the subject was back inside, her temperature had risen to 97.8℉. On our second trial, the subject’s temperature dropped from 98℉ to 95℉. After waiting five minutes inside, the subject was back at 97.3℉. During our final trial, the test subject had their temperature drop from 98℉ to 96.6℉. The subject warmed up to 98.4℉ when she went back inside.
Discussion and Conclusion:
For this project, our hypothesis was proven correct. Our data shows that the human body reacts to cold temperatures by producing more heat in order to keep the body warm. In our testing the subject heated up extremely quickly after going back inside. This shows that the body is reacting by heating up and keeping in heat. The data proves homeostasis because when the test subject was put in a cold environment, their temperature went down, but once out of the environment their temperature went above normal to regulate the body back to a normal level. One error that could have been made was that we may not have taken the subject’s temperature precisely the right time after they were done being cooled down. One thing that we did well was that we understood well what the data means in the context of our project. Some other testing that should be done on thermoregulation is testing how a body reacts to extreme heat.
Works Cited:
Rayon, Mr. “Thermoregulation Activity/Experiment.” Science Forums, 4 May 2009, www.scienceforums.net/topic/37403-thermoregulation-activityexperiment/.
“Hypothermia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothermia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352682.
Rosenthaul, Martha. "Temperature Regulation." Biology Reference. 2019. 28 Jan. 2019 <http://www.biologyreference.com/Ta-Va/Temperature-Regulation.html>.
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This graph shows Jada's body temperature before she stepped into the ice, just after she exited the ice bucket, and five minutes after coming inside the classroom. Homeostasis is demonstrated because the body is returning to normal temperature and even overshooting it during one trial.
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Content
Homeostasis - a state of stability with the body that is proportional to its environment. During our project we demonstrated how the body returns to homeostasis if its environment forces it out. When Jada's temperature dropped due to the ice cold water in the bucket, her body went through a process that brought her temperature back into a normal range.
Epinephrine - a hormone which comes from the adrenal medulla. When secreted, this hormone causes vasoconstriction, or the narrowing of the walls of the blood vessels. When Jada's body temperature dropped, her adrenal medullas released this hormone in order to constrict the blood vessels and retain heat in the blood.
Norepinephrine - a hormone that is released from the adrenal medulla. This hormone is secreted as a reaction to stress, which the brain can perceive cold as. The effects of this hormone on the body are increased blood flow to the muscles and an increased heart rate. When Jada stepped into the ice water, the shock triggered the release of norepinphrine, which increased her blood flow to her muscles in order to keep them warm.
Thyroid Hormone - a hormone made in the thyroid, liver, and kidneys. Thyroid hormone increases the body's metabolism in, which results in more heat production. The drop in Jada's body temperature was a signal for thyroid hormone to be released into the bloodstream, where the hormone did its job and caused the increase in Jada's temperature as we can see in our results.
Organs Involved - the part of the brain that facilitates thermoregulation is the hypothalamus. If the body sends this part of the brain a signal concerning temperature, whether too hot or too cold, the hypothalamus tells the other organs which hormones to release in order to return to homeostasis. All of the processes that went on in Jada's body when she got cold were triggered by the hypothalamus. The skin is also involved in thermoregulation. When you get goosebumps, this is a reaction to the cold which closes the pores to retain heat. When humans were closer to apes with hair all over their bodies, the hair would stand erect which would trap heat between the hair and skin. Your blood vessels are also part of thermoregulation whether they contract if you are too cold or expand if they are too hot. Epinephrine is the hormone that effects your blood vessels as explained above. See the above definitions for more organs that are involved in thermoregulation.
Variables - Independent Variable: the independent variable is a part of the experiment that does not change unless the people running the experiment change it. The independent variable in our experiment was the temperature of Jada's environment when we were cooling her body temperature. Dependent Variable: the dependent variable changes according to the dependent variable. The dependent variable of our experiment was Jada's body temperature because it changed based on our independent variable, the temperature of her environment, or the ice bucket. Control: the data point or fact that is compared to the dependent variable to judge results. Our control was Jada's temperature before stepping into the ice bucket because the drop in temperature could only be observed if we had something to compare it to.
Feedback Loop: a feedback loop is a system in the body that reacts to stimulus by either amplifying the system and letting the stimulus continue (positive loop) or inhibiting the system and fighting the stimulus (negative loop). The thermoregulation in our experiment is an example of a negative loop because the body reacts to being cold by combating its dropping temperature, not continuing to get colder.
Scientific Method - the scientific method is directions on how to conduct and connect research to a hypothesis and design an experiment for any subject. The steps are as follows: Ask a question, Background research, Develop a hypothesis, Design an experiment, Conclusion or communicate your results. My group and I used the scientific method during this project because we first asked the question "How does the body maintain homeostasis?" Next, we did our background research and formed a hypothesis. Based on our hypothesis, we designed and ran an experiment, gathered and analyzed our data, and shared it with the class and Ms. Mathews via our own research article.
Tools/Units - For our experiment, we used a thermometer, a bucket of ice water and a spray bottle. A description of how each of these was used can be seen above in our research article. We measured the time that Jada had to stand in the bucket and wait to take her temperature in minutes. We measured her body temperature in Fahrenheit.
Homeostasis - a state of stability with the body that is proportional to its environment. During our project we demonstrated how the body returns to homeostasis if its environment forces it out. When Jada's temperature dropped due to the ice cold water in the bucket, her body went through a process that brought her temperature back into a normal range.
Epinephrine - a hormone which comes from the adrenal medulla. When secreted, this hormone causes vasoconstriction, or the narrowing of the walls of the blood vessels. When Jada's body temperature dropped, her adrenal medullas released this hormone in order to constrict the blood vessels and retain heat in the blood.
Norepinephrine - a hormone that is released from the adrenal medulla. This hormone is secreted as a reaction to stress, which the brain can perceive cold as. The effects of this hormone on the body are increased blood flow to the muscles and an increased heart rate. When Jada stepped into the ice water, the shock triggered the release of norepinphrine, which increased her blood flow to her muscles in order to keep them warm.
Thyroid Hormone - a hormone made in the thyroid, liver, and kidneys. Thyroid hormone increases the body's metabolism in, which results in more heat production. The drop in Jada's body temperature was a signal for thyroid hormone to be released into the bloodstream, where the hormone did its job and caused the increase in Jada's temperature as we can see in our results.
Organs Involved - the part of the brain that facilitates thermoregulation is the hypothalamus. If the body sends this part of the brain a signal concerning temperature, whether too hot or too cold, the hypothalamus tells the other organs which hormones to release in order to return to homeostasis. All of the processes that went on in Jada's body when she got cold were triggered by the hypothalamus. The skin is also involved in thermoregulation. When you get goosebumps, this is a reaction to the cold which closes the pores to retain heat. When humans were closer to apes with hair all over their bodies, the hair would stand erect which would trap heat between the hair and skin. Your blood vessels are also part of thermoregulation whether they contract if you are too cold or expand if they are too hot. Epinephrine is the hormone that effects your blood vessels as explained above. See the above definitions for more organs that are involved in thermoregulation.
Variables - Independent Variable: the independent variable is a part of the experiment that does not change unless the people running the experiment change it. The independent variable in our experiment was the temperature of Jada's environment when we were cooling her body temperature. Dependent Variable: the dependent variable changes according to the dependent variable. The dependent variable of our experiment was Jada's body temperature because it changed based on our independent variable, the temperature of her environment, or the ice bucket. Control: the data point or fact that is compared to the dependent variable to judge results. Our control was Jada's temperature before stepping into the ice bucket because the drop in temperature could only be observed if we had something to compare it to.
Feedback Loop: a feedback loop is a system in the body that reacts to stimulus by either amplifying the system and letting the stimulus continue (positive loop) or inhibiting the system and fighting the stimulus (negative loop). The thermoregulation in our experiment is an example of a negative loop because the body reacts to being cold by combating its dropping temperature, not continuing to get colder.
Scientific Method - the scientific method is directions on how to conduct and connect research to a hypothesis and design an experiment for any subject. The steps are as follows: Ask a question, Background research, Develop a hypothesis, Design an experiment, Conclusion or communicate your results. My group and I used the scientific method during this project because we first asked the question "How does the body maintain homeostasis?" Next, we did our background research and formed a hypothesis. Based on our hypothesis, we designed and ran an experiment, gathered and analyzed our data, and shared it with the class and Ms. Mathews via our own research article.
Tools/Units - For our experiment, we used a thermometer, a bucket of ice water and a spray bottle. A description of how each of these was used can be seen above in our research article. We measured the time that Jada had to stand in the bucket and wait to take her temperature in minutes. We measured her body temperature in Fahrenheit.
Reflection
For this project, I felt that I could have worked much harder. My work ethic was one area that I would like to improve for next project. In the beginning, when we were supposed to be designing our experiment, I was on my phone a lot. I can fix this by putting my phone in the phone caddy and leaving it there for the whole class. Another thing I could improve for next project is my empathy. When Jada was in the ice water bucket, I showed no mercy or consideration for how cold she might be. I just kept saying that she volunteered to do it. Next project, I will make sure to consider what my teammates are feeling if they are put in a tough situation. I will help them get through it instead of making it harder for them.
There were bright spots during this project, too. When we were down to the wire with the writing portion, I got my portion done efficiently. I suppose that I had bad and good work ethic for this project, because at first I was poor in this section, but I improved drastically in the end. Another area that I did well in was leadership. During our research, I was the one that found and suggested which experiment we should conduct. I also directed the experiment when we did run it. When my teammates asked me questions, I answered them. Going forward, I hope to maintain this level of leadership and keep working hard.
For this project, I felt that I could have worked much harder. My work ethic was one area that I would like to improve for next project. In the beginning, when we were supposed to be designing our experiment, I was on my phone a lot. I can fix this by putting my phone in the phone caddy and leaving it there for the whole class. Another thing I could improve for next project is my empathy. When Jada was in the ice water bucket, I showed no mercy or consideration for how cold she might be. I just kept saying that she volunteered to do it. Next project, I will make sure to consider what my teammates are feeling if they are put in a tough situation. I will help them get through it instead of making it harder for them.
There were bright spots during this project, too. When we were down to the wire with the writing portion, I got my portion done efficiently. I suppose that I had bad and good work ethic for this project, because at first I was poor in this section, but I improved drastically in the end. Another area that I did well in was leadership. During our research, I was the one that found and suggested which experiment we should conduct. I also directed the experiment when we did run it. When my teammates asked me questions, I answered them. Going forward, I hope to maintain this level of leadership and keep working hard.