Station 6: Body Temperature

The skin is responsible for maintaining the internal temperature of the body regardless of the external
temperature. At this station you will examine how changing the external temperature impacts the
core temperature of the body.

Directions
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9

when complete
Choose one member of your group to be the test subject. The test subject must
be wearing short sleeves, or be able to roll up their sleeves.
A pan half-full of water is available at this station. Make sure there is some ice still
floating in the pan. If there is not, add more ice. Using a thermometer, record the
temperature of the water and record it in Table 5 below.
Place a thermometer probe cover over the end of the thermometer. Record the
test subjects oral temperature and dermal temperature (forearm) using the
thermometer. Observe the color of the forearm. Record in Table 5.
Have the test subject immerse his/her forearm into the water.
Record the oral temperature and the dermal temperatures of the submerged
forearm every minute for 5 minutes. Note the skin color. Record in Table 5.
Have the test subject remove the arm and dry it off with paper towels. Clean up
any water you have spilled around the pan.
Record the oral temperature, dermal temperature, and skin color every minute for
5 minutes after the arm has been removed from the pan. Record in Table 5.
Use the soap and/or alcohol pads to clean off the thermometers.
Create a line graph of your results for the oral and dermal temperatures on the
graph provided. Label your graph!

Table 5. Body Temperature

Time

Water
Temp.

Oral
Temp.

Dermal
Temp.

Before Experiment (control)

0 min
Submerged Forearm

1 min
2 min
3 min
4 min
5 min
Post Submerged Forearm

6 min
7 min
8 min
9 min
10 min

216

Skin
Color