Temperature control and vital signs

Question 1

What is the average resting pulse range?

Answer 1

60-100 bpm

Question 2

What is the average blood pressure range?

Answer 2

90/60 - 120/80

Question 3

What is the average resting respiratory rate?

Answer 3

12-20 breaths per minute

Question 4

What is the normal oxygen saturation level?

Answer 4

≥96%

Question 5

What is the average core body temperature?

Answer 5

37.8°C

Question 6

What is the name given to the optimum temperature for cellular function and metabolism?

Answer 6

Normothermia

Question 7

What are the risks of increased body temperature?

Answer 7

Protein denaturation, nerve malfunction, convulsions and death

Question 8

What are the risks of decreased body temperature?

Answer 8

Decreased cellular metabolism and function, which can be fatal

Question 9

What is the normal tympanic temperature range?

Answer 9

36-37.5°C

Question 10

What core body temperature range is considered to be a fever?

Answer 10

38-40°C

Question 11

What core body temperature is considered as hyperthermia?

Answer 11

> 40°C

Question 12

What core body temperature is considered as hypothermia?

Answer 12

<35°C

Question 13

What is the diurnal temperature range?

Answer 13

The change in temperature over the course of 1 day. Temperature is lower in the morning than at night

Question 14

When during the menstrual cycle is core temperature higher?

Answer 14

2nd half of the cycle from ovulation

Question 15

What are the 4 methods of heat gain?

Answer 15

Metabolic heat gain
Radiation
Convection
Conduction

Question 16

What are the 4 methods of heat loss?

Answer 16

Radiation
Conduction
Convection
Evaporation

Question 17

What is meant by the Basal Metabolic Rate?

Answer 17

The minimum amount of energy required to sustain vital body functions

Question 18

How does shivering increase heat production?

Answer 18

Through muscle activity, due to the increase in metabolic rate

Question 19

Name 3 hormones that can increase BMR (Basal metabolic rate)

Answer 19

Adrenaline, noradrenaline and thyroxine

Question 20

How does sweating increase heat loss?

Answer 20

Energy is drawn from the skin surface to convert water from a liquid to a gas

Question 21

Which division of the autonomic nervous system controls sweating?

Answer 21

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 22

Where are the central thermoreceptors found in the body?

Answer 22

In the hypothalamus, spinal chord and abdominal organs

Question 23

Where are the peripheral thermoreceptors found in the body?

Answer 23

In the skin

Question 24

What are the 3 main effectors of temperature control?

Answer 24

Skeletal muscle
Skin arterioles
Sweat glands

Question 25

Which region of the hypothalamus is activated by cold?

Answer 25

Posterior hypothalamic centre

Question 26

Which region of the hypothalamus is activated by warmth?

Answer 26

Anterior hypothalamic centre

Question 27

How do the skin arterioles decrease heat loss?

Answer 27

They undergo vasoconstriction, so blood flow to the skin surface is reduced to decrease radiation

Question 28

How do skeletal muscles increase heat production?

Answer 28

Increased muscle tone and shivering increases metabolic rate

Question 29

How do the skin arterioles increase heat loss?

Answer 29

They undergo vasodilation, so blood flow to the skin surface is increased to increase radiation

Question 30

How do skeletal muscles decrease heat production?

Answer 30

Decreased muscle tone, so decreased metabolic rate

Question 31

What chemicals are released from macrophages to trigger fever?

Answer 31

Endogenous pyrogens (e.g. interleukins)

Question 32

What do endogenous pyrogens stimulate the release of during the trigger fever?

Answer 32

Prostaglandins in the hypothalamus

Question 33

What effect do prostaglandins have on the hypothalamus?

Answer 33

They act on the hypothalamic thermo-regulatory centre to reset the set point at a higher temperature, initiating the mechanisms to heat the body

Question 34

What can trigger the end of a fever?

Answer 34

Treatment of the original cause or antipyretics

Question 35

What happens at the end of a fever?

Answer 35

The endogenous pyrogen release is ceased, so prostaglandin production is ceased, meaning the hypothalamus can reduce the body temperature to the normal set point