Briefly describe how the autonomic nervous system returns internal body temperature to normal following a rise in body temperature

Body temperature in mammals is controlled and maintained by a small part of the brain called the hypothalamus. Information about the temperature both inside and outside of the body is detected by thermoregulators. Internal regulators- found in the hypothalamus and detect blood temperature. External regulators- found in the places such as the skin and detect skin temperature. Information from these thermoregulators is fired along sensory neurons to the hypothalaums. The hypothalamus then sorts this information and sends a second set of firing to specific muscles and glands to either cool down or heat the body up. This all happens unconsciously since it is part of the autonomic nervous system.  If thermoreceptors detect a rise in body temperature, an impulse along a sensory neurone is sent to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus then sends a second impulse to muscles and glands that will act to cool the body down. For example- sweat glands (produce sweat which evaporates to cool down the body), erector pili muscles relax (means hairs lie flat and trap less insulating air), vasodilation (arterioles/little arteries near the skin surface get bigger so have a larger surface area to loose heat from the blood via radiation).