THERMOREGULATION

Jakarta, November 1st 2012

By
dr. Mila Citrawati, M.Biomed

Thermoregulation
Human bodies have anatomical and

physiological mechanisms that keep body

temperatures within acceptable limits,
regardless of environmental conditions
(homeothermic)
Body temperature determines the rate of
many bodily activities
A stable body temperature is the result of
heat loss and heat gain mechanism

Normal Body Temperature

36,1 37,8

C normal value crucial

for the optimal performance of enzymatic
and regulatory activities
A rise of only 1C increases the rate of
chemical reaction by 10%
At rest liver, heart, brain, endocrine
glands [>>heat generation], skeletal
muscle [only 20-30%]

 Various parts of the body are at different

temperatures and varies with the

environmental temperature
Rectal ~ core temperature, oral 0,5C
lower
Core temperature undergoes regular
circadian fluctuation of 0,5-0,7C
Women temperature variation
characterized by rise in basal temperature
at the time of ovulation

Mechanisms of Heat Transfer

Radiation : transfer heat by infrared waves

from a warmer object to a colder one

without the object being in contact [60%]
Conduction : transfer heat from a warmer
object to a colder one in physical contact
with it [3%]
Convection : transfer heat by way of the
movement of liquid or gas to a colder area
[15%]

Heat Loss

When the temperature at the preoptic

nucleus exceeds its thermostat setting,
heat-loss center is stimulated, while
heat-gain center is inhibited reflex
responses are controlled from anterior
hypothalamus

1. Inhibition of vasomotor center

vasodilatation peripheral blood vessels
skin becomes reddish skin
temperature increase radiation and
convection rate increase
2. Sweat gland stimulated perspiration
flows across the body surface
evaporation rate increase
3. Respiration centers are stimulated
depth of respiration increase
evaporation rate increase

Summary
Body heat lost by : Radiation and

conduction (70%), vaporization of sweat

(27%), respiration (2%), urination and
defecation (1%)
Mechanisms activated by heat : Increase
heat loss (cutaneous vasodilation,
sweating, increased respiration) and
decrease heat production (anorexia,
apathy, and inertia)

Behavioral Mechanism to Loose

Heat
Looking for shady spot

radiative gain

decrease
Lie down to cool grass, slide into pool, etc

conductive losses increase

Heat Gain
When temperature at preoptic nucleus

drops below acceptable levels, heat-gain

center is stimulated while heat-loss center
is inhibited reflex responses are
controlled from posterior hypothalamus
Two mechanisms to gain heat :
- heat conservation
- heat generation

Heat Conservation
Sympathetic vasomotor center decreases

blood flow to the dermis of the skin by

vasoconstriction of peripheral blood
vessels reducing radiational, convective,
and conductive losses the skin cools ,
bluish or pale coloration. This does not
damage epithelial cells as they are able to
tolerate extended periods at temperatures
as low as 25C or as high as 49C

 Countercurrent exchange;

when cutaneous blood vessels are cooled,

they become more sensitive to
catecholamine and the arterioles and
venules constrict directs blood away
from the skin and into the venae
comitantes, deep veins that run alongside
the arteries heat is transferred from the
arterial to the venous blood and carried
back into the body without reaching the
skin

 Contraction of errector pili muscle.

Piloerection causing the hairs to stand

erect so convection is blocked, and
conduction through air is very slow

Heat Generation
Shivering thermogenesis: heat-gain center

activation stimulation of brain areas

controlling muscle tone muscle tone
increase stretch reflexes in antagonistic
muscle increase shivering heat
production increase [shivering increases
the rate of heat generation by as much as
400%]

 Heat-gain center stimulates the adrenal

medulla via sympathetic division of the

ANS and epinephrine is released
cellular metabolism [glycogenolysis in liver
& skeletal muscle] and the rate of aerobic
respiration increase
Preoptic area directs the activity of thyroid
gland thyrotropic hormone releasing
factor increase thyrotropic hormone
release increase thyroxine increase
cellular metabolism increase heat
production increase

Behavioral Modifications
Get into the sun [radiational heating]
Lie on warm

sand [conduction heating]

Wearing sweater, gloves, jacket [reduce
radiational surface area and increase
insulating]
Doing strenuous activity

Summary
Body heat is produced by : Basic

metabolic processes, food intake,

muscular activity
Mechanisms activated by cold : Increase
heat production (shivering, hunger,
increased voluntary activity, increased
secretion of norepinephrine and
epinephrine) and decrease heat loss
(cutaneous vasoconstriction, curling up,
horripilation)

Maintaining the body temperature

Keeping warm

Staying cool

Increased insulation,
subcutaneous fat reduces
the conduction of heat from
the body

Increase blood flow to

skin, increases conduction
and radiation of heat from
the body

Reduced sweating
decreases evaporation

Increased sweat secretion,

increases evaporation

Increased shivering,
increases heat produced by
muscle tissue 2 to 5 times

Reduced activity
2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Core body
temperature
>37C
Thermoreceptors
Hypothalamus

nerves

Muscles
reduce
activity

Sweat
glands
increase
secretion

Muscles of
skin arteriole
walls relax
Skin arteries dilate
More blood to the
skin.
More radiation &
conduction of heat

More water covers the

skin.
More evaporation
Less heat generated
2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

NEGATIVE
FEEDBACK

Thermoreceptors

Core body
temperature
>37C

Thermoreceptors

Blood
temperature

Muscles of
skin
arteriole
walls relax

nerves
Hypothalamus

Sweat
glands
increase
secretion
Muscles
reduce
activity

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Body
loses
heat

Return
to 37C

Core body
temperature
<37C
Thermoreceptors
Hypothalamus

nerves
Muscles
shivering

Sweat
glands
decrease
secretion

More heat
generated
2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

nerves
Muscles of
skin arteriole
walls
constrict

Less water covers the

skin.
Less evaporation

Skin arteries
constrict
Less blood to the
skin.
Less radiation &
conduction of heat

NEGATIVE
FEEDBACK

Thermoreceptors

nerves
Core body
temperature
<37C

Thermoreceptors

Muscles of
skin
arteriole
walls
constrict
Sweat
glands
decrease
secretion

Hypothalamus

nerves

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Blood
temperature

Muscles
shivering

Body
loses
less
heat

Body
gains
heat

Return
to 37C

Temperature Homeostasis in
Humans

Normal and Abnormal Variations in

Body Temperature

Normal range [oral] 36-38C systems

normal
Disease-related fever, severe exercise, active
children 38-41C disorientation
CNS damage, heat stroke >41C cell
damage, convulsion, tissue damage, death
Early morning in cold weather, severe exposure
of cold 36-32C disorientation
Hypothermia for open heart surgery 32-23C
loss of consciousness, cardiac arrest, skin
turn to blue, death

Which mechanism of heat

transfer am I doing right
now, guys?