THERMOREGULATION
Dr. Marwa Moaaz
Lecturer in Clinical Physiology
Medical Research Institute
Alexandria University
1
Body Temperature Regulation
• Thermoregulation:
a mechanism by which mammals maintain body temperature
with tightly controlled self-regulation
independent of external temperatures.
• Temperature regulation is a means of preserving a stable internal
temperature in order to survive.
2
Body Temperature Regulation
• Ectotherms: are animals that depend on their external environment
for body heat,
• Endotherms: are animals that use thermoregulation to maintain a
somewhat consistent internal body temperature even when their
external environment changes.
3
4
Body Temperature Regulation
• Humans and other mammals and birds are endotherms.
• Human beings have a normal core (internal) temperature around 37
degrees Celsius.
• This is the optimal temperature at which the human body’s systems
function.
5
Body Temperature Regulation
• Thermoregulation is crucial to human life:
• without thermoregulation, human body would cease to function.
• plays adaptive role in body's response to infectious pathogens.
6
Body Temperature Regulation
• Body temperature rises in fever and hyperthermia.
• Body temperature falls during hypothermia.
• Either state can have deleterious effects on the various body systems,
• most significantly reduced blood flow leading to ischemia and multiple
organ failure.
7
Body Temperature Regulation
Normal Body Temperatures:
• Core Temperature (Tc): temperature of the deep tissues of the body,
very constant.
• Skin Temperature: rises and falls with the temperature of the
surroundings.
8
Body Temperature Regulation
• Body Temperature Is Controlled by Balancing Heat
Production Against Heat Loss.
heat gain heat loss
9
Body Temperature Regulation
• Body heat generated in core tissues of the
body
• transferred to skin surface by blood
• released into the surrounding environment.
10
Heat Production Heat Loss
1) basal rate of metabolism. 1) radiation: loss in the form of infrared heat
rays.
2) extra rate of metabolism caused by 2) Conduction:
muscle activity, shivering. a) direct conduction to solid objects: 3 per
cent.
b) conduction to air: 15 per cent.
3) extra metabolism caused by thyroxine 3) Convection: heat first conducted to air
and other hormones. then carried away by the convection air
currents, 15 per cent.
4) extra metabolism caused by increased 4) Evaporation: 0.58 kilocalorie of heat is
chemical activity in the cells. lost for each gram of water that evaporates,
Even when a person is not sweating.
5) thermogenic effect of food. 11
Body Temperature Regulation
• Most biochemical processes in the body are affected by changes in
temperature.
• Core body temperature maintained:
• 36.0° C - 37.5° C.
• Within this range, there are individual differences.
12
Body Temperature Regulation
• Factors affecting normal body temperature:
1. Diurnal variations: lowest (3:00 -6:00 am).
highest (3:00 - 6:00 pm)
2. Females: lower 2 weeks before ovulation
rises 0.5°-1.0°C with ovulation till menses.
3. Seasonal variation: metabolic change, uncommon in humans.
4. Postprandial: elevated.
5. Pregnancy, endocrinologic dysfunction.
6. Elderly: lower mean values, decrease amplitude of diurnal variation. 13
14
Introduction
Regulation of body temperature:
• Insulator system of the body: skin, subcutaneous tissues.
• Blood flow to the skin from the body core provides heat transfer.
• blood flow to skin can vary: 0 – 30 % of the total cardiac output.
15
Body Temperature Regulation
• Control of heat loss.
• Body heat produced in deeper tissues
insulated by Subcutaneous tissues and
skin → protect against heat loss.
• Vasodilation: blood transports heat to
skin surface → it dissipates into
surrounding environment.
• Vasoconstriction: decreases transport of
core heat to skin surface. 16
Body Temperature Regulation
• Temperatures differ in various parts of body: core temperatures > skin surface.
1. rectal temperature:
• most accurate measure of core temperature. 37.3 - 37.6 ° C.
2. oral temperature:
• 0.2°C - 0.5°C < rectal temperature (36.8° ± 0.4° C.)
3. axillary temperature:
• Estimate of core temperature. axillary fossa pressed for 5 - 10 minutes before final
temperature is reached. 17
Body Temperature Regulation
4. Ear-based thermometry:
• infrared sensor to measure flow of heat.
• easy and rapid,
• Acceptable to people,
• cost saving in personnel time.
• accuracy ??
18
19
