Definition of Body Temperature

The temperaturebodily is the degree of heat of the body. Human beings have mechanisms that allow us to keep our temperature within narrow limits despite the fact that there are large fluctuations in the environment. This property of mammals, which we share with birds, makes us homeothermic animals.

Under normal conditions, the temperature of humans is between 36.5 and 37.4 ° C. There are variations throughout the day, these cause the temperature to rise in the afternoon and fall to its lowest point between 2 and 4 in the morning.

Body temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus

The brain has a series of structures that allow it to obtain information about the temperature of the body and that of the outside. Inside is a nucleus known as hypothalamus which is the temperature regulating center, it is capable of decide the temperature of the body through the heat obtained from the flow of blood that circulates through the arteries brain, it also receives signals from the outside thanks to nerve endings that come from the receptors, a

species sensors located on the skin.

Thanks to a complex process, the hypothalamus is capable of activating systems that allow it to maintain or dissipate heat, thereby regulating the body's temperature.

When the temperature rises, changes occur in the diameter of the blood vessels and the flow of blood through the skin that activate processes such as sweating, which allows you to lose heat and lower body temperature.

On the contrary, if the temperature decreases, contrary mechanisms are set in motion, the blood vessels to divert blood flow from the skin to internal organs, this is accompanied from shaking as a muscle contraction mechanism to produce heat as well as the erection of the hairs that aims to isolate the body from the environment. These changes allow the temperature to be maintained.

Body temperature acclimatization

By subjecting the organism to variations in the temperature of the environment, the regulatory mechanisms are initially activated, which can cause discomfort, especially if the environment it's hot. Responses are produced such as the dilation of blood vessels to lose heat, which can cause symptoms such as headache, heaviness, redness, and rapid heartbeat.

If the exposition the heat is maintained, the phenomenon of acclimatization occurs, with which the heat loss mechanisms become each less noticeable, which makes the individual feel more comfortable in an unusual temperature with the passage of days.

Fever is the main body temperature disorder

It is possible that the hypothalamus is affected, causing a "mismatch" of the internal thermostat, this occurs in the course of some infections, as well as with the use of medications and some disorders internal, causing fever.

In these cases the body has its temperature adjustment mechanisms that function normally, without However, the hypothalamus assumes a higher temperature as normal and adjustments are made to keep it.

Topics in Body Temperature