Thermoregulation Flashcards

1
Q

Describe normal variation on core body temperature

A

Normal body temperature is 36.5-37.5 degrees C
Normal temperature: Tsetpoint - Tcore
Changes to T set point lead to changes in Tcore
Circadian rhythms varies temperature by 1 degree for sleep due to endogenous rhythms

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2
Q

What is core temperature?

A

Temperature of abdominal, thoracic and intracranial regions. It is regulated by heat transfer with shell and maintained within a couple of degrees of set point

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3
Q

What is set point?

A

Regulated by prostaglandins. The target temperature to be maintained, baseline temperature which physiological mechanisms work to regulate. Monitored by hypothalamus.

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4
Q

What is the shell temperature? How is it regulated?

A

Temperature of skin, subcutaneous fat and limb.
Regulated through changes in perfusion - vasodilation to increase blood flow, vasoconstriction to decrease blood flow, increase or decrease sweating

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5
Q

How to measure temperature? Worst to best

A

Axilla
Tympanic/skin
Oral
Rectal
Esophageal
Mixed venous blood

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6
Q

Explain the thermoregulatory mechanisms of heat loss

A

Evaporation
Radiation
Conduction
Convection

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7
Q

Explain the thermoregulatory mechanisms of sweating

A
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8
Q

Explain the thermoregulatory mechanisms of vasoconstriction

A
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9
Q

What is conduction

A

Direct transfer of heat between objects in contact

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10
Q

What is convection?

A

Transfer of thermal energy to moving fluid and gas

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11
Q

What is radiation

A

Transfer of thermal energy via electromagnetic radiation

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12
Q

What is evaporation?

A

Transfer of thermal energy as latent heat of evaporation

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13
Q

What is relative humidity?

A

Percentage of water vapour present in air compared to max possible at that temperature

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14
Q

Explain the thermoregulatory mechanisms of heat gain

A

Environmental
Thyroid hormones (increased basal metabolic rate)
Catabolism of food
Postural changes
Convection
Conduction
Radiation
Shivering
Basal metabolic activity

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15
Q

What factors affect heat exchange?

A

Vapour/temperature pressure gradient - skin and environment
Surface area:volume
Wind speed
Insulation
Pilo-erection
Shivering
Skin blood flow
Behaviour

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16
Q

Explain the thermoregulatory mechanisms of shivering

A
17
Q

Explain the thermoregulatory mechanisms of vasodilation

A
18
Q

Explain heat balance

A

Core temperature is regulated by compensatory body temperature changes ie heat gain to compensate for heat loss to increase in body temperature aim is for heat loss to equal heat gain

19
Q

What is basal metabolic rate?

A

Rate at which body uses energy while at rest at maintain vital function

20
Q

Explain the normal physiological response of fever

A
21
Q

Explain the normal physiological response of hypothermia

A
22
Q

Explain why adrenaline isn’t given at TB < 30 degrees

A
23
Q

Explain why only defib 3 times in hypothermia

A
24
Q

What is body temperature?

A

Due to biochemical processes which are constantly taking place, requiring energy

25
Q

What is temperature regulation?

A

Ability of an organism to regulate its internal temperature to a particular level that provides optimal conditions for metabolic processes to occur

26
Q

What are thermoreceptors?

A

Temperature sensitive receptors that inform the hypothalamus about change in temperature at the surface of the skin and at the core

27
Q

What is neural control of temperature

A
  1. Detection of temperature - peripheral thermoreceptors monitor skin temperature, and central thermoreceptors monitor core temperature
  2. Transmission to the brain - information from the thermorecpetors is sent to the hypothalamic thermoregulatory integrating centre, it is also sent to the cerebral cortexr allowing for conscious perception of temperature
  3. The hypothalamic thermoregulatory integrating centre processes the temerature data and initiates appropriate responses
  4. Effector responses - sweat glands (activated to produce sweat for cooling down), smooth muscles in blood vessels (control vasodilation to release head or vasoconstriction to conserve heat) or skeletal muscles (activated to produce shivering for heat generation)
28
Q

What is the thermoneutral zone (TNZ)?

A

Range of environmental temperatures where vasodilation/constriction controls thermoregulation.
For a clothed adult ranges in 21-26 degree weather are between 26 (lower critical temperature) and 29 degrees (upper critical temperature) ambient temperatures

29
Q

What happens if the ambient temperature is outside the TNZ?

A

Above 29 degrees: increased metabolic rate for vasodilatin and sweating
Below 26 degrees: increased metabolic rate for shivering and vasoconstriction

30
Q

What is

A