Regulation of body temperature

A change in the body temperature influences the biological reactions in the body. For
efficient functioning of different biochemical processes in mammals a more or less constant
body temperature is necessary the animal can be classified into two groups according to their
ability to maintain a constant body temperature.

1. Poikilo thermal or cold blooded animals -: those animals whose temperature fluctuates
with the variation in the environmental temperature.

2. Homeothermal or warm blooded animals -: that animal whose body temperature remain
more or less constant with the variation in environmental temperature.

There are various factors which cause the variation of body temperature in homeothermal
animals like – age, sex, season, time of the day, environmental temperature; exercise etc. a
variation of normal body temperature is also found between different parts of the body. E.g. -
in ruminant animals temperature in the rumen is considerably higher than the rectal
temperature due to fermentative action in the rumen.

Homoeothermic animals also exhibit variation of body temperature from morning to evening.

Balance -: the body temperature of animals depends on balance between heat input and heat
output. The heat input depends primarily on metabolism of food substances at the cellular
level. The food energy is converted into heat during the process of metabolism and body heat
is dissipated to the environment by way of conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation
when environmentally temperature is comparatively lower than the body temperature.
Animal gains heat when environmental temperature is higher than the normal body
temperature by way of physical means like conduction, convention, and radiation.

Heat exchange with the environment occurs through physical process like -

1. Conduction
2. Convection
3. Radiation
4. Evaporation

Of water form skin surface through sweat, saliva and through respiratory passage.

1. Conduction -: heat loss or gain by the way of conduction occurs when animals body is in
direct contact with the medium like air.

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2. Convection -: the heat loss through convection depends upon thermal gradients between skin
and air overlying the skin. This layer of air gets heated leaving the space for cooler air to fill
up. This dissipation of heat form skin convection.

3. Radiation -: transfer of heat by radiation take place in absence of direct contact between
objects. E.g. -: radiation by heated ground or by sun.

4. Evaporative heat loss- : the heat loss by evaporation of water takes place in the swat saliva
and respiratory secretion.

Thermo sensitivity -: the primary condition for thermoregulation in homoeothermic animals

is thermal perception both centrally and peripherally.

Thermo receptors -: the skin and same mucous membrane are provided with numerous
nerve ending. These nerves ending depending upon their sensitivity are called warmth
receptors and cold receptors. When there is sudden rise in environmental temperature the
warmth receptors are sensitised and impulse are transmitted to higher centre in the brain
likewise when environmental temperature suddenly drops then other nerve ending called cold
receptors get stimulated and the impulse are transmitted to the higher centre.

Regulation of body temperature -: anterior hypothalamus play key role in the regulation of
body temperature because it received integration of information from the various receptors

Regulation of body temperature during heat stress.

When homoeothermic are exposed to heat stress, peripheral vasodilation take place leading to
increased blood supply to limb and skin ultimately heat dissipation through evaporation of
water occurs.

When ambient temperature may exceed the body temperature under this condition body gains
heat form the environments by conduction from hot air and by convection from the heated
ground and radiation from sun. During this time warm receptors are activated and transmitted
impulse to higher centre like anterior hypothalamus. The hypothalamus after sensing the
nature of action the body has to take to maintenance of homethermy of body like peripheral
vasodilation to enhance evaporation of water through body to maintain temperature.

Except this animal also adopt same behavioural methods like seeking shed, burring in mud or
water.

Regulation of body temperature during cold stress -: in the cold there is vasoconstriction
that helps conservation of more heat in the body. During cold piloerector mechanism helps
erection of hair that traps air between environment surface and prevent heat loss by the
physical meaks like conduction convection, radiation.

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In addition to this substance each fat also acts as an insulator and prevent heat loss from the
body when Imuran temperature is low than the body temperature.