Thermoregulation

Objectives
 Describe the thermoregulatory center
and its functions.
 Explain the mechanisms of heat
transfer.
 Explain the pathophysiological
mechanisms involved in temperature
disorders.
Body Temperature
 Shell temperature:
 Temperature closer to skin
 Oral temperature
 36.6o-37.0oC (97.9o-98.6oF)
 Core temperature:
 Most important temperature
 Temperature of “core” (organs in cranial, thoracic
and abdominal cavities)
 Rectal temperature
 37.2o-37.6oC (99.0o-99.7oF)
Heat Production
 Exergonic reactions:
 Oxidation and ATP use.
 Most heat generated by brain, heart,
liver and glands at rest.
 Skeletal muscles 20-30% at rest. Can
increase 30-40 times during exercise.
Thermoregulatory Center
 Hypothalamus:
 Preoptic area neurons: hypothalamic

thermostat:
 Heat-losing center

 Heat-promoting center

 Monitors temperature of blood and receives

signals from peripheral thermoreceptors.
 Negative feedback loops
Thermoregulatory Center
 Heat-losing center:
 Activates heat losing mechanisms:
 Dilation of dermal arterioles: increase blood
flow to skin.
 Sweating.
 Increased respiration through mouth.
 Behavioral: remove clothing.
 Inhibits heat-promoting center.
Thermoregulatory Center
 Heat-promoting center:
 Activates heat generating mechanisms:
 SNS:
 Vasoconstriction of dermal arterioles: decrease blood flow to
skin
 Stimulates arrector pili muscles: hair stands on end
 Shivering thermogenesis: spinal reflex of alternating
contractions in antagonistic muscles
 Nonshivering thermogenesis:

Long-term mechanism stimulating thyroid hormone release T3
and T4.
 Inhibits heat-loss center.
Thermoregulatory Center
 Hypothalamus:
 Peripheral thermoreceptors:
 Temperature of skin.
 Central thermoreceptors:
 Temperature of core.
 Most important located in hypothalamus.
Mechanisms of Heat
Transfer
 Radiation:
 Infrared radiation.
 Conduction:
 Direct transfer of energy through physical contact.
 Convection:
 Heat loss to air around the human body.
 Evaporation:
 Energy change in water molecule from liquid to
vapor.
Heat Exhaustion
 Acute heat injury due to dehydration.
 Heat-loss center stimulated.
 Sweat production increases.
 Decrease in BP because heat loss center stimulates
peripheral vasodilation.
 Blood flow to brain decreases.
 Compensatory mechanisms:
 SNS
 Aldosterone
 ADH
Heat Exhaustion
 Symptoms:
 Headache
 Nausea
 Actively sweating
 Skin cool and pale
 Fainting
 Treatment:
 Increase fluids
 Shade or AC room
 Cold wet towels
 Can progress to heat stroke.
Heat Stroke
 Core rectal temperature approaches 41oC
 2 types:
 Individuals with compromised homeostatic
mechanisms:
 Young children
 Elderly
 Exertional:
 Healthy individual under strenuous exercise
Heat Stroke
 Renal and splanchnic vasoconstriction.
 Peripheral blood flow decreases.
 Impaired thermoregulation.
 CNS dysfunction:
 Cerebral edema and increased intracranial
pressure.
 Tissue damage due to uncoupling during
oxidative phosphorylation.
 Proteins denature.
Heat Stroke Complications
 Rhabomyolysis
 Multiple organ failure:
 Cardiac
 Hepatic
 Renal
 DIC: fibrinolysis
 CNS hallucinations, coma
 Anhydrosis more common in classic than
exertional heat stroke.
Heat Stroke Treatment
 Drop core temperature by 0.2oC/min
 Institute evaporative cooling methods:
 Remove clothing and spray body with
water while cooling with fans.
 Correct water deficit
 Oxygen
 Give chlorpromazine:
 Depresses shivering during treatment
Exercise
 Maximum exercise, heat production can be
10-20 times resting.
 Highest temperatures occur in the exercising
muscles.
 Body temperature increases during exercise
and levels off a few degrees above normal
(except at extreme temperatures).
 Regulated response with heat loss = heat
production at a stabilized core temperature.
Exercise Acclimatization
 Exercise in the heat for two weeks at a
safe intensity.
 Plasma volume increases 12%.
 Sweating occurs at lower temperature.
 Sweat rate increases as much as 3
times.
 Sweat osmolality decreases.
Hypothermia
 Core temperature below 95oF.
 Gradual loss of mental and physical activity.
 Changes in motor coordination.
 Shivering.
 Slurred speech.
 Abnormally slow rate of breathing.
 Cold, pale skin.
 Fatigue, lethargy.
Hypothermia
 If core temperature remains above 90oF, recovery is good.
 If core temperature falls below 80o F, prognosis poor.
 Treatment:
 Move person out of cold.
 Insulate the person’s body.
 Warm beverages.
 Give warm IV fluids, slowly otherwise vasodilation occurs,
bringing too large volume of chilled blood; cardiac
arrhythmias.
 Frostbite:
 Vasoconstriction to cold, causes irreparable tissue damage.
 Cells decrease ATP production, hypoxia.

 Do not rub tissue.