Thermodynamics & The Body

Relevant Course Content: Essentials of Thermodynamics

Lesson-1
Aamina Batool
 What is a Thermodynamic System?
• A system is a defined part of universe chosen for thermodynamic study.
• Is this classroom a system? Ask yourself: Does it contain matter? energy?
Does it have a separation from the surrounding area?
• What about your own body?
What are the types of Thermodynamic Systems?
What if the door of What if the door of class How about if we seal
class was open? was closed but not sealed the door?
from below?

No
Yes
Ask yourselves: What about the hot water
in this PETE bottle?
Can matter/energy be
exchanged from this Can the same be said about
nuclear reactor? the heat of water?

Is there anything on earth that cant let anything escape it?

Perhaps a flask with inbuild radiation shields. But what else, really?

• Thermodynamics
• Thermo: Heat/Temperature Dynamics: Movement/Power

• Simply put: Interconversion of heat & other forms of energy

• In Biology: Energy transfers within & between organisms
• All exchanges of energy within body
• And exchanges with surrounding
Now that we know what a thermodynamic system is, lets see what laws
govern it. And how does that effect the living world.

First law of thermodynamics

Energy can be transferred from one form to another, but it cannot
be created or destroyed.

The law is the law of conservation of energy

 Not changed.
mass We let this one go, we consider energy change independently,
assuming that mass isn’t being exchanged
 system
heated
energy Changes
cooled

Does work

Has work done on it

 If energy is exchanging with surrounding all the time, how do
know what amount is present (at any time)?
Simple. We say Total= Energy given TO the system – minus energy
taken FROM it.
 • Consider this plant, as it doesn’t ‘do work on
others’, W will not be part of equation. We only
have Qin and Qout.
Δ𝑈= Qin - Qout

• Consider this man. Apart from heat and ‘work done

on others’, another factor is present. The food, and
the energy that comes from food after Metabolism

Δ𝑈= Q – W +E (energy of Metabolism)

Note: Sometimes you will see ΔE=q+w online or in books. This is the same as our equation. It just
doesn’t say if work is done or received and if heat is taken or given out. Its not considering losses as such
 Applying 1st Law on the Body
• Julius Robert von Mayer first gave the idea of energy conservation while
studying energy balance of human body.
• There are 3 ways a body can gain or lose energy:

• Heat transfer with surroundings. Net heat transfer = 𝑄

• Eg: Temperature difference + Perspiration

• Body doing work on the surroundings. The net = 𝑊

• Eg: Physical Work (work done on itself, like keeping alive isn’t
considered)

• Gain of material/Food that produces Energy. Net gain of

energy due to this type of process is 𝐸.
• Eg: Metabolism

Δ𝑈 = 𝑄 − 𝑊 + 𝐸
 Hypothermia & Hyperthermia
• Thermoregulation: maintenance of a constant core body temperature in an
organism.
• Humans and other warm-blooded organisms (homeotherms) thermoregulate. Some
organisms, such as reptiles, that do not are called thermoconformers.
• Human core body temperature ~37°C (mostly higher than surroundings)
• Thanks to the inefficiency of metabolism (lost heat, that is stored within us), we
never reach thermal equilibrium with our surroundings.
• Hypothermia: Temperature falling (below 35°C) as heat loss is more compared to
heat gain (and Metabolism is low) (Confusion, death)
• Hyperthermia: Greater metabolic rate + more heat gained than lost. , 37.5–38.3 °C
(40 °C is heat stroke)

PS. Fever is action of hypothalamus, body raises its own temperature to fight microbes. Hyperthermia is not the body’s own
decision and reason is external
 Calculating Core Body Temperature
• We can control weather an organism will have normal core temperature or not
based on following thermodynamic equations. All we need to know is their mass
and the rate of heat loss (or rate of heat loss and metabolic rate and we can
calculate this)

• Example:
• A UCPian is sitting in A-Building courtyard in December. His metabolic rate is
100W while sitting, 300W while walking. He is losing heat at the rate of 500W.
Calculate Net Rate of Heat Lost: (a) While sitting (b)While Walking
(Which is less & why do you think it is less?)
 Calculating Core Body Temperature
• Hamna is running all over UCP to put event posters on notice boards. The
natural rate of heat loss in her body is 300W. As she runs, her metabolic rate
goes up to 600W. Calculate net energy lost.
• Calculate Total Energy loss, if she runs for an hour.
Calculating Core Body Temperature
• A 𝟔𝟎 kg person has a core temperature of 𝟑𝟕 ◦C. The onset of mild
hypothermia occurs at a core body temperature of about 𝟑𝟓 ◦C. The specific
heat capacity of human tissue is 𝟑𝟓𝟎𝟎 J kg−𝟏 K −𝟏 . He is losing heat at a rate
of 𝟑𝟎𝟎 W to his surroundings, and will be exposed to this environment for two
hours. Will he get hypothermia if he is sitting still?
• What about if he is walking or running? [Sitting still metabolic rate = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 W;
walking metabolic rate = 𝟐𝟓𝟎 W; running metabolic rate = 𝟔𝟎𝟎 W.]
Thermoregulation & Energy Losses
• Step 1: We Sense: Temperature-sensitive receptors located in skin, hypothalamus
itself, midbrain, spinal cord and abdominal cavity. Their job is to send signals to
Hypothalamus (so it can take an action).
• Step 2: We take Action:

• Vasoconstriction: If Temperature in body gets too low, the blood vessels in skin
contract. Lesser blood flows from core to surface and heat lost from it is reduced. Yes!
This makes skin colder than normal (this is a sacrifice to keep core safe)

• Vasodilation: If body gets too hot, the blood vessels in skin dilate. This causes skin to
heat up (necessary sacrifice) and the heat from the core is lost by bringing blood to
surface for heat exchange
Calculating the Effect of Vasodilation & Vasoconstriction

• Heat Capacity of Water x Blood Flow Rate x Temperature:

• 4200 J kg−1 K −1 is the specific heat capacity of water. If you are

given temperature rise of 2K, and normal blood flow rate (eg. In a
normal male it is 3 × 10−3 kg s−1). You can multiply to get heat loss
• 4200 J kg−1 K −1 × 3 × 10−3 kg s−1 × 2 K = 25 W
 Thermoregulation
• Piloerection: (or goosebumps) occur when fine hair on skin
stand on end. This allows a layer of air to be added between
skin and surrounding and cause insulation.
• This works great in birds, but as humans have less hair, not
very effective.

• Shivering: Hypothalamus triggers this reflex. The body’s

muscles begin to make small movements to bring some
metabolic energy and generate thermal energy. If the body
gets tired, it stops

• Perspiration (or sweating): sweat glands in the skin excrete

fluid (mainly water with some dissolved salts).