Ch 12/23 Flashcards
Temp regulation
homeotherms
maintain constant body core temp
* humans are homeotherms
* heat loss must match heat gain - to avoid execessive core body temp - why heat balance is so important
Core temperatures above 45 degrees C can result in:
Core temps below 34 degrees C can result in:
- 45 degrees C can damage proteins and enzymes and lead to death
- 34 degrees C can result in decreased metabolism, neuron function, cardiac arrhythmias
Thermal gradient
exists between deep body core to skin surface
– Typical gradient is approximately 4°C
– In extreme cold, may be 20°C
how is deep body (core) temp measured
- Measured at rectum, ear, or esophagus (Usually in laboratory)
- Ingestible temperature sensor telemetry system
(Can be used in athletes during practice sessions)
How is skin (shell) temp measured
Thermistors at various locations
– Calculate mean skin temperature
Voluntary vs. involuntary heat production
- Voluntary: exercise - 70-80% energy expenditure released as heat (depends on efficiency)
- Involuntary: shivering (increases heat production by ~5x) & non-shivering thermogenesis (initiated by thyroxine - thyroid hormone - or catecholamines)
4 mechanisms of heat loss
- Evaporation (most important in hot environments)
- Radiation: heat lost ot nearby objexts without physically touching them
- Conduction: heat lost to nearby objects through direct physical touch
- Convection: heat lost to surrounding air, which becomes warmer, rises and is replaced with cooler air
Evaporation rate depends on
- temp and relative humidity
- the higher the temperature and/or humidity, the higher the water vapor pressure = lower rate of evaporation - convective currents around the body: fan or air blowing by you will increase evaporation
- amount of skin surface exposed: evaporation much be directly off skin (not clothes) to get the most cooling benefit
heat index
body’s perception of how hot it feels
* high relative humidity reduces evaporative heat loss = increased preception of how hot it feels
* relative humidity adds to both preceptions of heat and an actual increase in heat
which avenue of heat loss plays the most important role during exercise in a hot/dry enviornment
evaporation
note that evaporation does DECREASE in very hot evironments due to an increased vapor pressure. Though this mechanism will still play a crucial role
What is the body’s thermostat
the preoptic anterior hypothalamus (POAH)
how does the preoptic anterior hypothalamus (POAH) respond to heat load (+ its two mechanisms)
responds to increases in core temp by
1. stimulating sweat glands to increase evaporative heat loss
2. cutaneous vasodilation so more heat is lost from the skin
How does the preoptic anterior hypothalamus stimulate sweat glands
in eccrine sweat glands, Ach binds to mAchR (muscarinic receptor) which stimulates production of sweat
How does preoptic anterior hypothalamus stimulate cutaneous vasodilation
same as sweating - Ach binds mAchR causing vasodilation of blood vessels in the skin
not your body will also remove vasoconstricter tone to encourage vasodilation
What do we call the preoptic anterior hypothalamus’s control during increased core body temp
sympathetic cholinergic control
What determines heat production during steady state exercise
exercise intensity, not environmental temp
* its the intensity NOT the heat
as exercise intensity increases, heat production ____ due to
increases due to muscular contraction = increased metabolism generating energy = more heat
* linear increase in body temperature
Core temp increases proportional to what
active muscle mass - ie. doing bicep curls will produce less heat than a whole body exercise
Describe
Heat production does NOT change, what changes is how we lose heat
as room warms, they relied more on evaporation and less on radiation and convection
- negative radiation & convection = ** gaining heat**
Why is a hot/humid environment so dangerous for exercise
humidity/heat makes evaporation harder; environmental heat will result in a shift from radiation/convection mechanisms to evaporation. Radiation and convection can switch if hot enough and give heat back to the body
important to note that enviornmental temp does not determine heat production during exercise but rather can transfer heat back to the body
submax exercise in a hot/humid environment leads to risk of
heat illness (heat cramps, then heat exhaustion, then heatstroke) & hyperthermia
Main cardiovascular responses to exercise in heat
- upward drift in oxygen uptake (VO2) - cant maintain steady state
- cardiac output remains same (see below)
- HR increase (to compensate for decreased SV)
- Decrease in SV
- blood flow directed away from working muscles and nonessential areas to the skin
Sweat rates during exercise in heat
higher swear rate
* varies by size of individual (larger = more sweating)
* genetic variation
endocrine responses to exercise in heat
increased release of vasopressin and aldosterone to retain blood volume
3 pillars of impaired exercise performance in heat
accelerated muscle fatigue can also affect NS and decrease motivation
Ways to prevent exercise-related heat injuries since increases in core body temp with exercise is risky
- hydration
- less/more breathable clothin
- heat therapy - acclimating
- staying out of the heat
- Frequent rests/cool-down breaks
Acclimation vs acclimatization
What do they both require
acclimation: Rapid physiological adaptation that occurs within days to a few weeks, or is artificially induced in a climatic chamber
acclimatization: Gradual, long-term adaptation that occurs within months to years of exposure to the environmental stress (i.e., climate)
BOTH require exercise in hot environment: elevated core temp promotes adaptation (larger response from exercising than just sitting in heat - sauna)
End result of heat acclimation
lower heart rate and core temp during submaximal exercise
Note theres a larger improvement to core body temp but will decrease both
5 adaptations from heat acclimation
-
increased plasma volume (10-12%): maintains blood volume, stoke volume, and sweating capacity
- also dependent on fluid consumption after exercise - Earlier onset of sweating/higher sweat rate: less heat storage, maintain lower body temp
- Reduced sodium chloride loss in sweat: reduced risk of electrolyte disturbances
- Reduced skin blood flow: able to maintain core body temp better at same intensity
- Increased cellular heat shock proteins: prevent cellular damage due to heat
how does the body reduce sodium loss in sweat during heat acclimation
different composition of sweat - enhanced aldosterone release causes eccrine gland to reabsorb electrolytes