E1 Human Physiology Essence Notes IG @dse.
medabiology
2. Subcutaneous fat (long-term adaptations)
- Thicker layer subcutaneous fat acts as a heat insulating layer to reduce heat loss
注意 long term 的散熱/保溫措施不會在短期內出現，即是題目如果是指一個人做
運動後/離開室內冷氣房等 short-term 情況，是不會出現這兩項反應的。
大家試想想如果天氣熱就能減少 subcutaneous fat，那麼減肥就不用那麼辛苦了
（我都想），所以其實不合理！記得一定要清楚閱讀題目，雖然 E1 的答案相對
較直接，但仍有很多地方可以 trick 考生，一定要足夠小心！
How body removes heat – public exam questions!
When the surrounding temperature is LOWER than the body temperature (37oC):
By VASODILATION of arterioles near the skin, heat removal by conduction, convection &
radiation is efficient.
When humidity is LOW:
Evaporation of sweat is efficient, to remove a large amount of heat.
所以好重要！如果出面溫度高於體溫 37oC，vasodilation 就不能通過 conduction,
convection & radiation 的方式散熱，因為溫度差的反轉，反而身體會吸收環境的熱
力，令體溫進一步上升，這個時候就依靠 evaporation of sweat 來散熱；相反當環
境濕度高，high humidity reduces the rate of evaporation of sweat，很多汗會留在皮膚表
面不能蒸發，即是不能有效地 remove heat，所以這種情況就依靠 vasodilation 作散
熱方法。
換句話說，如果出現 surrounding temperature higher than body temperature 加 high
humidity 的環境，例如雨後天晴的夏天，這種天氣的散熱是非常不 efficient 的，
所以這個時候做劇烈運動，會大大增加 heat stroke 的風險：
When the humidity is high, heat cannot be lost effectively through evaporation of sweat.
When the surrounding temperature is higher than the body temperature, heat lost through
convection & radiation is hindered / body may gain heat from the environment.
Heat is continuously produced during exercise.
The rate of heat absorption is higher than the rate of heat loss. Body temperature rises
continuously, leading to a failure in heat-regulatory mechanism. The body becomes overheated.
The individual may become unconscious and collapse, resulting in heat stroke.
少少答題技巧 tips，temperature 降不下來是因為(1) 不斷製造熱力+ (2) 散熱失
效，所以才導致不斷升溫、發展至中暑，如果只有其中一樣，體溫最多高企，
未必會不斷上升。這個 concept 在其他 topics 也適用，一樣物質會積聚 (a substance
accumulate) 往往是因為(1)不斷製造+(2)不能排走，要同時講到這兩點才能拿到更
高的分數，也是很多同學遺忘以致失分的地方！
©2022 DSE.MEDABIOLOGY 7
E1 Human Physiology Essence Notes IG @dse.medabiology
***Thermoregulation
When body temperature RISES
(e.g. vigorous exercise, sunny day)
- (Cause of increase in body temperature)
- Thermoreceptors in hypothalamus detect the increase in blood temperature. Heat
receptors in the skin detect the increase in skin temperature.
- They send nerve impulse to the heat loss center in the hypothalamus.
- Hypothalamus then sends nerve impulse to the sweat gland to secrete more sweat /
to arterioles near skin to undergo vasodilation.
- Body temperature drops to the normal level.
When body temperature DROPS
(e.g. cold/windy day, leaving the water 上水)
- (Cause of decrease in body temperature)
- Thermoreceptors in hypothalamus detect the decrease in blood temperature. Cold
receptors in the skin detect the decrease in skin temperature.
- They send nerve impulse to the heat gain center in the hypothalamus.
- Hypothalamus then sends nerve impulse to arterioles near skin to undergo
vasoconstriction / to muscles for shivering (/ to the sweat gland to stop sweat
secretion)
- Body temperature rises to the normal level.
基本上框架如此，但需因應實際情況選擇哪項 thermoregulatory response，例如從
泳池上水，sweat gland 的部分就不適用了，或者在一個溫度極高、高於體溫的一
天，vasodilation 不能幫助散熱，所以不用寫入答案內。
另外，正如前面所講，2021DSE 的 E1 有些改革，在題目寫明不需要 nervous
coordination，只需要 explain 為何 thermoregulation 是一個 negative feedback response。
Q. Why is thermoregulatory response a negative feedback mechanism? (nervous coordination is
NOT required) – 2021 DSE 1(b)(ii)
- There was a normal value of body temperature, which was 37oC.
- Once the body temperature rose above this value, it triggered the sweating process.
- evaporation of sweat absorbed heat energy from body
- trying to lower the body temperature until it returns to the normal range.
©2022 DSE.MEDABIOLOGY 8
