Module 3a- Thermoregulation: Basics Flashcards
What does the thermoregulatory system do for the human body and what structure is mainly responsible for maintaining this system?
The thermoregulatory system regulates the body’s core temperature. The main structure responsible for maintaining this system is the hypothalamus in the brain.
Where are the receptors for the thermoregulatory system?
Receptors for the thermoregulatory system are in the skin and central locations in the spinal cord and brain.
What happens to the blood vessels in a human body when it is too warm? Explain.
Peripheral (surface) blood vessels vasodilate or open up. This increases blood flow to the skin surface and increases heat loss.
How many watts of heat does the resting human body normally produce and how much does this increase through shivering?
A resting human body normally produces about 100 watts of heat. Shivering increases this number by approximately 3 - 5 times or 300 - 500 W.
What happens to the blood vessels in a human body when it starts to get cold? Explain.
Peripheral (surface) blood vessels vasoconstrict or narrow. This decreases blood flow to the extremities and decreases surface heat loss.
How much average heat does a severely hypothermic subject generate?
A severely hypothermic subject who is not shivering, generates only 40 watts of heat or less.
How do you treat a wet, hypothermic victim?
Keep patient horizontal and treat as gently as possible. Add heat to the upper torso (chest, arm pits and back) and try to stop evaporative heat loss by putting on dry clothes in a sheltered area or using a vapour barrier wrap to prevent evaporative heat loss. Also add as much insulation as possible.
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