Thermoregulation Flashcards
What is total heat content (of the body) determined by?
1) metabolic heat production
2) thermal flux (heat exchange) between animal & environment
What are the major routes of heat exchange?
conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation
What is conduction? Describe flow and effects.
direct transfer of energy from one object to another
net energy flow always warmer –> cooler; thus may warm or cool body
What is convection? Compare and contrast it to conduction.
transfer of energy between an object and a moving fluid
What is radiation? What are sources of radiation and the effects?
energy transfer via emission or absoprtion of EM radiation
all objects emit EMR
body will emit radiant heat to surroundings = lose energy
body will absorb radiatn heat from surroundings (incl. solar) = gain energy
net result determines overall gain or loss
What is evaporation?
evaporation of water moleculces from surface absorbs thermal energy; almost always a heat loss (i.e. cooling effect)
What is conduction dependent on?
1) area of contact
2) temperature difference
3) thermal conductive properties