Often one is not acclimated to the cold after having moved from a warm to cooler climate. Similarly, individuals may have difficulty adjusting to the heat after having moved from a cold to warm region. This difficulty in acclimating to different temperatures most likely requires adjustments in thyroid gland activity.

Question

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

Answer 1

True

Clarify Question


What is the key concept addressed by the question?
     • The question is asking you to determine if the role of the thyroid gland is related to acclimation to different temperatures.
What type of thinking is required?
     • Apply level:
       o You are being asked to take what you already know and use, or apply, it to a situation where thyroid function is being considered in a person's acclimation to the cold or heat.


Gather Content


What do you already know about the role of the thyroid gland in energy metabolism? What other information is related to the question?
     • To answer this question you need to recall that the role of the thyroid gland is to secrete two hormones, T3 and T4, which are highly involved in general metabolic regulation throughout an animal's body.
     • Additionally, to answer this question you should recognize that one of the major roles of thyroid hormones is to increase the number and activity of the Na+/K+-ATPase pumps found in plasma membranes. The Na+/K+-ATPase pumps consume large quantities of ATP, which promotes the breakdown of stored macromolecules to produce additional ATP. This process produces heat which contributes to body temperature in endotherms.


Choose Answer


Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
     • At this point you should have everything you need to answer the question. The activity of the thyroid gland is to produce T3 and T4 which are actively involved in increasing the quantity and use of the Na+/K+-ATPase pumps found in cells. The use of these pumps is associated with the production of heat. Therefore it is logical to assume that movement from local to local, with varying temperature extremes present, will require adjustment of the thyroid's activity.


Reflect on Process


Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
     • Apply level:
       o Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to use your understanding of the role of the thyroid gland in a new situation. If you got an incorrect answer, did you remember that the thyroid hormones increase the activity and number of Na+/K+-ATPase pumps, or that the activity of the Na+/K+-ATPase pumps generates heat? Did you have trouble extending the role of the thyroid gland in secreting thyroid hormones to determine the correct answer?