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Body Temperature Regulation Physiology

The normal human body temperature is approximately 37°C. Temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus and can be measured using a clinical thermometer in the rectum, mouth, armpit, or ear. The body maintains temperature through heat loss mechanisms like sweating and vasodilation or heat gain processes during metabolism and shivering. In hot environments the body increases sweating and blood flow to the skin while decreasing activity; in cold it does the reverse through vasoconstriction and increased calorie burning. Abnormal temperatures include fever from infection and heat stroke from failure to regulate during heat exposure.

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Maab Alrsheed
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43 views17 pages

Body Temperature Regulation Physiology

The normal human body temperature is approximately 37°C. Temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus and can be measured using a clinical thermometer in the rectum, mouth, armpit, or ear. The body maintains temperature through heat loss mechanisms like sweating and vasodilation or heat gain processes during metabolism and shivering. In hot environments the body increases sweating and blood flow to the skin while decreasing activity; in cold it does the reverse through vasoconstriction and increased calorie burning. Abnormal temperatures include fever from infection and heat stroke from failure to regulate during heat exposure.

Uploaded by

Maab Alrsheed
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

BODY TEMPERATURE

Physiology department
Normal body temperature

 The temp. of the internal structures of the


body = 37°C (+/- 0.5).
 Differs from the temp. of the skin which is
affected directly by the temp. of the external
environment.
 The subcutaneous fat layer act as insulator
between the skin & internal structures.
Measurement of body temp.

 The device used is the clinical


thermometer.
The site used for measurement are:
 The rectum.
 The mouth.
 The axilla.
 The ear.
Con

 Regulation of body temp. within narrow limits


is essential for the function of enzymes & the
activity of the nervous system.
 There is specialized center for control of body
temp. located in the hypothalamus.
 This center controls the heat loss & heat gain.
Ways of heat loss :-
 Conduction.
 Convection.
 Radiation.
 Evaporation.
 ways of heat
gain :-
 Metabolism.
 Muscular activity
(exercise &
shivering).
 Food intake.
 From the environment
by (conduction,
convection or
Body responses to hot
environment
Heat loss is ↑ by :- Heat gain is ↓ by :-
 Sweating  ↓ metabolism
 Skin vasodilatation  ↓ food intake
 ↑ respiratory rate  ↓muscular activity
 Stretching at sleep
 Light clothes
Heat exposure
Body responses to cold
environment
Heat loss is ↓ by :-
Heat gain is ↑ by :-
 ↓ sweating
 ↑ metabolism
 Vasoconstriction
 ↑ food intake
 ↓ respiratory rate
 ↑ muscular activity
 Curling up at sleep
 Heavy clothes & hot
drinks
Cold exposure
Abnormalities of temp. regulation
 Fever :-
 an important sign sign of disease (typhoid fever
& malaria).
 Caused by pyrogens synthesized & released by
white blood cells in response to infection by
microorganisms.
Heat stroke
 Result from damage to the temperature
regulatory center in the hypothalamus.
 Caused by high environmental temp.
 This causes failure of sweating & failure to
reduce body temp. by evaporation.
 Patients develop headache, blurring of vision,
convulsions & coma.
 It is a fatal condition, treatment should start
immediately to reduce body temp. e.g by ice
water immersion.
Heat exhaustion
 Occurs in the hot humid environment due to
excessive sweating but with no evaporation.
 The body temp. become elevated.
 The activity of the nervous system is affected.
 The patient develops dehydration (due to
excessive sweating).
 If not treated, the temp. regulatory
mechanisms fail and heat exhaustion becomes
complicated by heat stroke.
 Heat exhaustion should be treated by taking
the patient to a well ventilated, cold room and
giving him intravenous fluid like normal saline
solution.
Thank
you

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