W10 - Thermoregulation in Hot Environments Flashcards
Where are central warm receptors primarily located?
Hypothalamus
Where in brain mediates responses that result in heat loss?
Pre-optic region & anterior hypothalamus
Which section of the brain is involved in heat production and conservation?
Cells in posterior hypothalamus
What causes rise in core temperature?
When heat gain from environment and metabolic processes exceed heat losses
How does body lose heat?
Evaporation of water from body surface
How much energy is required to transform water into water vapour?
2400 kJ/Litre
What is the clinical definition of hyperthermia in humans?
Core body temperature of 40 deg C or above
What are the main heat responses?
Decr heat gain by reduced activity, reduced feeding
Reduced heat gain from environment
Increase heat loss by body shape, sweating, panting/salivation, CVS responses
What are the 2 main ways to decrease heat gain?
Reduce activity, reduce feeding
What is impact of muscle activity on heat production?
Increased voluntary muscle activity increases heat production
What activity is synonymous with hot climates?
General apathy and inertia
What is an example of reduced activity to decrease heat gain?
Mexican siesta
What is aestivation?
Dormancy by mammals in summer months to reduce activity levels to zero and remain dormant in burrows
What is impact of food intake on heat production?
Increased food intake elevates metabolic heat production
Hot environment promotes anorexia
Describe food preference in hot environments.
High water content foods like fruit, salad, vegetables
What physiological methods are used to maximise heat loss?
Vasodilation of cutaneous BV
Increased sweating
Behavioural responses
What behavioural responses are used to maximise heat loss?
Use fans to incr convective heat loss
Water immersion to incr conductive heat loss
Stay out of sun to prevent radiant heat gain
Remove clothes
What behavioural methods are used to minimise heat production?
Diminish food intake to lessen obligatory heat production
Decrease physical activity
What is the purpose of clothing in dry desert areas?
Reduce heat gain from environment and increase heat loss from body
What type of clothing is required in dry desert areas and why?
Loose fitting, lightweight, light coloured materials
Reflect much of short wave solar radiation, permits circulation of air necessary to evaporate sweat
What type of clothing is required for humid tropical regions and why?
Minimal clothing to reduce body’s heat load and maximise surface area for sweat evaporation
What is the ideal body shape for hot desert conditions?
Tall with long lean limbs and low subcutaneous fat
How does tallness increase heat loss?
Maximises surface area to body weight ratio for evaporative cooling
How does leanness help increase heat loss?
Facilitates heat conduction from deep body tissues
Which people have the optimal human form for desert environment?
Nilotic people of Sudan
Masai of Kenya
2.14m average height
What is the primary means of increasing heat loss in hot environments?
Sweating
Describe sweat gland density and distribution on body.
120 sweat glands/cm2
50% of sweat from glands on back, chest
What is the maximum sweat rate in man?
3 L/ hour
What is an average sweat rate for man working in hot dry conditions?
12 L /day