Table of contents

1. Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology5h 43m
2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components12h 36m
3. Energy & Cell Processes10h 6m
4. Tissues & Histology10h 3m
5. Integumentary System2h 20m
6. Bones & Skeletal Tissue2h 16m
7. The Skeletal System2h 35m
8. Joints2h 17m
9. Muscle Tissue2h 33m
10. Muscles1h 11m
11. Nervous Tissue and Nervous System1h 35m
12. The Central Nervous System1h 6m
- Introduction to the Central Nervous System
  18m
- The Cerebrum
  48m
13. The Peripheral Nervous System1h 26m
14. The Autonomic Nervous System1h 38m
15. The Special Senses2h 41m
16. The Endocrine System2h 48m
17. The Blood3h 22m
18. The Heart3h 42m
19. The Blood Vessels3h 35m
20. The Lymphatic System3h 16m
21. The Immune System14h 37m
22. The Respiratory System3h 20m
23. The Digestive System2h 5m
24. Metabolism and Nutrition4h 0m
25. The Urinary System2h 39m
26. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance, Acid Base Balance37m
27. The Reproductive System2h 5m
28. Human Development1h 21m
29. Heredity3h 32m

21. The Immune System

First-Line Defenses: Chemical Barriers

Anatomy & Physiology

21. The Immune System

First-Line Defenses: Chemical Barriers

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Problem 7e

Textbook Question

Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.
Fever is generated by pyrogens that reset the temperature set point of the hypothalamus to a lower value.

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the role of pyrogens in fever generation. Pyrogens are substances, often produced by pathogens or immune cells, that influence the hypothalamus to increase the body's temperature set point, not lower it.

Step 2: Recall the function of the hypothalamus in thermoregulation. The hypothalamus acts as the body's thermostat, regulating temperature by adjusting physiological responses such as shivering or sweating.

Step 3: Identify the error in the statement. The statement incorrectly claims that pyrogens reset the temperature set point of the hypothalamus to a lower value, whereas they actually raise the set point to induce fever.

Step 4: Correct the false statement. The corrected version should read: 'Fever is generated by pyrogens that reset the temperature set point of the hypothalamus to a higher value.'

Step 5: Review the corrected statement to ensure it aligns with the physiological mechanism of fever generation and the role of pyrogens.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Fever and Pyrogens

Fever is a physiological response characterized by an increase in body temperature, often due to infection or inflammation. Pyrogens are substances, either internal (endogenous) or external (exogenous), that induce fever by triggering the hypothalamus to raise the body's temperature set point.

Hypothalamus Function

The hypothalamus is a critical brain region that regulates various bodily functions, including temperature control. It acts as the body's thermostat, responding to pyrogens by adjusting the set point for body temperature, leading to fever when the set point is elevated, not lowered.

Correcting False Statements

In evaluating statements for truthfulness, it is essential to identify inaccuracies and provide corrections. In this case, the false statement can be corrected by stating that fever is generated by pyrogens that reset the temperature set point of the hypothalamus to a higher value, not a lower one.