What is the primary response of the body when temperature rises?

When the body temperature rises, the primary response is to activate the sweat glands to secrete sweat. This mechanism helps cool the body through the process of evaporation. As sweat evaporates from the skin surface, it dissipates heat and lowers the body temperature. This thermoregulation process is crucial in maintaining a stable internal environment and preventing overheating, especially during exercise or in hot weather.

The activation of sweat glands is part of the body's homeostatic response to thermal stress, where sensory receptors detect the increase in temperature, and the hypothalamus processes this information, triggering the appropriate response. Other bodily responses, such as increasing heart rate or changes in blood vessel diameter, are secondary effects intended to support heat dissipation but are not as direct in responding to a rise in temperature as sweating is.