Regulation of body temperature

Prof Randa Mostafa

Mostafaranda@sharjah.ac.ae

Objectives:
When you finish this lecture, you should be able to : 1. Identify the principal sources of body heat. 2. Describe some factors that cause variations in body temperature. 3. Describe how the hypothalamus monitors and controls body temperature. 4. Describe the conditions in which the body temperature is excessively high or how.

References: Saladin,K.S. 2007: Anatomy and physiology,4th edition, Mcgraw.HILL, part 4, chapter 26. Guyton,A.C.and Hall,J.E 2006 : Text book of medical physiology. 11th edition, chapter 73. Huether,S.E., and McCance,K.L. 2004 : Understanding pathophysiology,3rd edition, chapter 13.

Why do we need to regulate: Internal body temperature

To provide the optimum conditions for enzyme-catalysed reactions to be carried out.
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Body Temperature
Normal internal body temperature is 370C
Temperatures above this: denature enzymes and block metabolic pathways Temperatures below this: slow down metabolism and affect the brain.
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Body temperature fluctuate about 1 C in 24 hour cycle (circadian rhythm)

It tends to be lowest in the early morning

Highest in the afternoon.

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The core temperature: the temperature of organs in the cranial, thoracic and abdominal cavity.

The temperature at the core of the body (as measured by rectal temperature is generally 0.5 C higher than at the surface.
Usually 37.2 37.6 C It may be as high as 38.5 C in active children
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Shell temperature : is the temperature closer to the surface especially skin and oral temperature

Heat is lost from the body and temp is slightly lower than rectal temperature (36.6-37.0 C)

Women tend to have wider fluctuation that follow menstrual cycle, with a sharp rise in temperature within the ovulation.

Heat production (metabolic rate of the body)

The rate of heat liberation during chemical reactions Different factors determine the rate of heat production: 1. Basal rate of metabolism of all cells of the body.

2. Extra rate of metabolism caused by muscle activity , including muscle contractions caused by shivering. 3 Extra rate metabolism caused by the effect of thyroxin and to lesser extent,other hormones, such as growth hormone and testosterone.

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Thermogenic effect of food:

Extra metabolism needed for digestion,absorption and storage of food

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Heat loss
Body losses heat by

Radiation
About 60% of total heat loss is by radiation in all directions

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Conduction
About 3% are normally lost from the body by direct conduction from the surface of the body to solid objects such as a chair or bed.

Loss of heat by conduction to air represents about 15% under normal conditions.
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Conduction of heat from the body to the air is self limited unless the heated air moves away from the skin so that new , unheated air is continually brought in contact with the skin, a phenomenon called
Air convection

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Air convection The removal of heat from the body by convection air currents A Small amount of convection always occurs around the body because of the tendency for air adjacent to the skin to rise as it becomes heated.

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Heat conductivity in water is very great in comparison with that in air.

It is impossible for the body to heat a thin layer of water next to the body to form an insulator zone as occurs in air.

The rate of heat loss of water is usually many times greater than the rate of heat loss to air.
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Evaporation

0.58 Calorie of heat is lost for

each gram of water that is evaporates. When a person is not sweating, water still evaporates insensibly from the skin and lungs at a rate of about 600700 ml/day.

Continual heat loss at a rate of 16-19 calories /hour

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Control of homeostasis through feedback

Feedback system- cycle of events in which the status of a body condition is continually monitored, evaluated, changed, re-monitored, re-evaluated, etc.

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 1) receptor

3 basic components of a feedback system

sensor that responds to changes (stimuli)

2) control centre
sets range of values, evaluates input and sends output

3) effector
receives output from control centre and produces a response

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Regulation of body temperature Role of hypothalamus

Hypothalamus: Preoptic area neurons: hypothalamic thermostat: Heat-losing center Heat-promoting center
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It monitors the temperature of the blood and receive signals also from CUTANEOUS THERMORECEPTORS in the skin

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High blood temperature

STIMULATE Heat-losing center: Activates heat losing mechanisms:

Dilation of dermal arterioles: increase blood flow to skin

Sweating.

Inhibits heat-promoting center.

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Low blood temperature

Stimulate Heat-promoting center:Activates heat generating mechanisms:

Sympathetic nervous system:

Vasoconstriction of dermal arterioles: decrease blood flow to skin Stimulates arrector pili muscles: hair stands on end: traps an insulating blanket of air near the skin ---- goose skin.

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Shivering thermogenesis:

spinal reflex of alternating contractions in antagonistic muscles

Every muscle contraction release heat from ATP. Shivering can increase the bodys heat production as much as fourfolds.

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Non shivering thermogenesis:

Long-term mechanism

stimulating thyroid hormone release T3 and T4. We have greater appetite in the winter than in the summer..

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Thermoregulation is a function of multiple organs: the brain, the autonomic nerves, thyroid glands, skin, blood vessels and skeletal muscles

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Disturbances in thermoregulation

Fever:
which means a body temperature above the usual range of normal. Is a normal protective mechanism that should be allowed to run its course if it is not excessively high, however it can be very dangerous.

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Resetting the hypothalamic temperature Many proteins Breakdown products of proteins. Lipopolysaccaride toxins released from bacterial cell membrane Can cause set point of hypothalamic thermostat to

rise

A set-point The set point is the core temperature at which neither heat loss mechanisms or heat production mechanisms are active.

All the mechanisms for raising the body temp are brought into play.

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Mechanism of fever
Bacteria, breakdown products of bacteria, viruses Phagocytosis Blood leucocytes, Tissue macrophages

Interleukin 1 (leukocyte pyrogen) Prostaglandins (mainly E2

Aspirin (antipyretic) antiprostaglandins

Preoptic area of hypothalamus

fever
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Heat emergencies are of three types: Heat cramps (caused by loss of salt). Heat exhaustion (caused by dehydration) Heat stroke (shock). Heat cramps : are painful muscle spasms that result from excessive electrolyte loss in the sweat. Usually occurs when a person begins to relax after strenuous excertion and heavy sweating.
'The calf and thigh muscles are the principal muscle groups to be affected by cramp'.30

Heat exhaustion : results from more severe water and electrolyte loss

Characterized by: Hypotension, dizziness,vomiting, sometimes fainting.

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STERNOUS exercise, hot, humid environment

Heat stroke: Is clinically defined as a state in which the core body temperature is over 40C The skin is hot and dry, Nervous system dysfunctions such as delirium,convulsions or coma. Tachycardia, hyperventilation, multiorgan dysfunction

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Hypothermia: is where the body temperature falls drastically because of exposure to cold.

It can occur when someone is out in the cold too long without adequate clothing or immersion in icy water
If the core body temperature falls below 33C , the metabolic rate drops so low that heat production cannot keep pace with heat loss.

The elderly can be much more susceptible to hypothermia. Death from cardiac fibrillation may occur below 32C

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