Free Thermoregulation MCQs with Answers

45 Thermoregulation MCQs from Biology, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Thermoregulation maintains body temperature through negative feedback controlled mainly by the hypothalamus. It covers vasodilation and vasoconstriction, sweating, shivering, changes in metabolic heat production and behavioural responses, while distinguishing heat loss by radiation, conduction, convection and evaporation from temperature regulation itself.

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45 questions · page 1 of 3

Fairly easy
  • A. medulla oblongata
  • B. hypothalamus
  • C. cerebellum
  • D. skin itself

Explanation: The hypothalamus contains receptors that monitor the temperature of the blood flowing through it and also receives information from…

Correct answer: hypothalamus
  • A. constrict, so less blood reaches the surface
  • B. are unaffected, since only sweating matters
  • C. dilate, so more blood flows near the surface and more heat is lost
  • D. carry blood away from the skin into deeper shunt vessels

Explanation: Vasodilation of the arterioles lets more warm blood flow through the surface capillaries, so heat is lost by radiation and conduction and…

Correct answer: dilate, so more blood flows near the surface and more heat is lost
Moderate
  • A. sweat is colder than the body
  • B. sweat carries away dissolved urea
  • C. the sweat glands use up energy in secreting it
  • D. evaporation of the water in sweat takes latent heat from the skin

Explanation: Changing liquid water into vapour requires a large amount of latent heat, and that heat is drawn from the skin surface, so the body cools…

Correct answer: evaporation of the water in sweat takes latent heat from the skin
Moderate
  • A. rapid involuntary muscle contractions release heat from respiration
  • B. it increases the blood flow to the skin
  • C. it reduces the surface area of the body
  • D. it stops sweat being produced

Explanation: The muscles contract and relax rapidly without doing any useful external work, so almost all the energy released by increased respiration…

Correct answer: rapid involuntary muscle contractions release heat from respiration
Moderate
  • A. dilation of the surface capillaries
  • B. contraction of the erector pili muscles, which pull the hairs upright
  • C. the emptying of the sweat glands
  • D. the thickening of the subcutaneous fat layer

Explanation: Each hair has a small erector muscle that pulls it erect, and in a furry mammal this traps a thicker layer of still air as insulation.

Correct answer: contraction of the erector pili muscles, which pull the hairs upright
Moderate
  • A. always live in warm climates
  • B. have a body temperature that follows the temperature of the surroundings
  • C. generate most of their body heat from their own metabolism and hold it nearly constant
  • D. are unable to lose heat through the skin

Explanation: An endotherm keeps its core temperature steady using heat from respiration, which lets enzymes work at their optimum whatever the weather…

Correct answer: generate most of their body heat from their own metabolism and hold it nearly constant
Moderate
  • A. Vasodilation & sweating
  • B. Vasoconstriction
  • C. Shivering
  • D. Renin secretion

Explanation: Cooling in hot conditions depends on dilating the skin arterioles so more warm blood reaches the surface and on evaporating sweat, which…

Correct answer: Vasodilation & sweating
  • A. Vasodilation
  • B. Vasoconstriction
  • C. Panting
  • D. All of these

Explanation: Panting increases evaporation of water from the respiratory tract, and evaporation removes heat from a dog's body.

Correct answer: Panting
  • A. 35 oC
  • B. 36 oC
  • C. 37 oC
  • D. 38 oC

Explanation: The average internal temperature of a healthy human is approximately 37 °C, maintained by thermoregulatory mechanisms despite changes in…

Correct answer: 37 oC
  • A. Walter Bradford Cannon
  • B. Anselme Payen
  • C. Jons jacob Berzeliis
  • D. None of these

Explanation: Walter Bradford Cannon introduced the term homeostasis for the maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment.

Correct answer: Walter Bradford Cannon
  • A. Thermal adaptation shown by animals
  • B. wind adaptation shown by animals
  • C. adaptation of animals to escape from predators
  • D. none of the above

Explanation: Hibernation and aestivation are thermal adaptations in which animals reduce activity and metabolism during very cold or very hot…

Correct answer: Thermal adaptation shown by animals
  • A. Endotherms
  • B. Ectotherms
  • C. Heterotherms
  • D. Homeotherms

Explanation: Bats and hummingbirds are heterotherms because their body temperature and metabolic rate can vary, especially during torpor or periods of…

Correct answer: Heterotherms
  • A. 26 - 28°C
  • B. 36 - 38°C
  • C. 46 - 48°C
  • D. 56 - 58°C

Explanation: Human enzymes and cells function best near 37°C, so normal mammalian body temperature is approximately 36 to 38°C.

Correct answer: 36 - 38°C
  • A. There is a definite control system that regulates the homeostatic activities
  • B. Homeostatic mechanisms keep the internal environment fixed despite of wide changes in external environment
  • C. Because of this the fluctuations of internal environment are of extremely narrow range as compared to that of external environment
  • D. All are correct

Explanation: Homeostasis does not keep the internal environment completely fixed; it maintains variables within a narrow range despite external…

Correct answer: Homeostatic mechanisms keep the internal environment fixed despite of wide changes in external environment
  • A. Change in membrane protein composition.
  • B. Change in the solute composition of the cell membrane which prevents crystallization.
  • C. Increase in proportion of unsaturated fatty acids.
  • D. Development of heat shock proteins.

Explanation: Increasing unsaturated fatty acids keeps membrane lipids fluid at low temperatures because their bends prevent tight packing and crystal…

Correct answer: Increase in proportion of unsaturated fatty acids.
  • A. Positive feed back
  • B. Negative feed back
  • C. Feed back
  • D. Osmoregulation

Explanation: Negative feedback opposes a change: when body temperature rises, mechanisms such as sweating and vasodilation lower it toward the normal…

Correct answer: Negative feed back
  • A. Fore brain
  • B. Hind Brain
  • C. Thalamus
  • D. Hypothalamus

Explanation: The hypothalamus contains the body's temperature-regulating centre and compares blood temperature with a set point to coordinate heat-loss…

Correct answer: Hypothalamus
  • A. Protective
  • B. Destructive
  • C. Constructive
  • D. Aggressive

Explanation: Pyrogens raise the hypothalamic temperature set point and trigger fever, which can hinder the growth or replication of some pathogens and…

Correct answer: Protective
  • A. Fresh water mammals
  • B. Terrestrial mammals
  • C. Marine Mammals
  • D. Flying mammals

Explanation: Marine mammals such as whales and seals possess blubber, a thick fat layer that reduces heat loss in cold water and also provides energy…

Correct answer: Marine Mammals
  • A. Endotherms
  • B. Ectotherms
  • C. Heterotherms
  • D. Homeotherms

Explanation: Ectotherms depend largely on environmental heat to regulate their body temperature, so fishes, most invertebrates and amphibians are…

Correct answer: Ectotherms

Thermoregulation MCQs: common questions

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There are 45 Thermoregulation MCQs in the Biology bank, shown 20 to a page with the correct answer and an explanation on each.

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