W9 - Thermoregulation in Cold Environments Flashcards
What type of variations do environmental temperature follow?
Circadian
Circannual
Geographic
What temperature range is the body core kept at?
36-38 deg C
What must be balanced in order to maintain stable core temperature?
Balance of heat gained by body with heat lost to environment
Where does most of the heat gained by the body come from?
Metabolic heat production
What external temperature causes body to gain heat from environment?
When ambient temperature exceeds skin temperature
What processes cause heat loss from skin to air?
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Evaporation
What temperature range is the thermoneutral zone for a 70kg naked man?
27 - 31 deg C ambient temp
What is TNZ?
Thermoneutral zone
Describe thermoneutral zone.
Range of environmental temperatures over which it is relatively easy to maintain stable core temperature
Describe metabolic heat production in TNZ.
Minimal metabolic heat prodn
Thermoregulation is maintained by vasomotor activity
What is critical temperature?
Lowest temp within TNZ
What happens below critical temperature?
Metabolic heat production has to be raised to offset heat losses
Why is the person naked for TNZ?
Critical temp of clothed individual would be much lower than 27, would vary according to amount and type of clothing worn
What is effect of peripheral vasoconstriction on temperature?
Reduces amount of blood moving from deep/warm areas of body to skin
Less heat lost to environment
What is effect of peripheral vasodilatation on temperature?
Incr blood moving from deep/warm areas of body to skin
Incr heat loss to environment
Where are temperature sensitive receptors located?
Peripherally and centrally
Where are peripheral temperature receptors found and what is density?
In skin, some mucous membranes
Lips = 18/cm2 Palm = 2/cm2
What are the two types of peripheral receptors?
Ad fibres = cold receptors = stimulated by lower range of temperatures
C fibres = warm receptors = stimulated by higher range of temperatures
Describe number of cold v warm receptors.
Cold receptors outnumber warm receptors by 10:1
What skin temperature range do cold fibers send impulses frequently?
10 - 30 deg C
What skin temperature range do warm fibers send impulses frequently?
Peak at 45 deg C
Range: 30 - 48 deg C
Where are the central cold and warm receptors found?
Hypothalamus
Spinal cord
Around central great vessels
Where are the warm receptors primarily found?
hypothalamus
Where is information from thermoreceptors transmitted?
To hypothalamus and other integrating areas
Which brain regions mediate responses that result in heat loss?
Pre-optic region and anterior hypothalamus
Which brain region is involved in heat production and conservation?
Posterior hypothalamus
What is the effector organs from thermoreceptor information?
Sympathetic fibres innervate arteriolar smooth muscle in skin
Control degree of constriction or dilation of vessels
What happens in body when ambient temperature falls below TNZ?
Heat losses from body increase
Exceeds heat production
Thermal balance lost
Core temp will fall
Rapid homeostatic response act to return body temp to normal
What is thermoregulation below critical temperature reliant upon?
Metabolic heat prodn
What happens if body’s responses to cold fail?
Fail to restore thermal balance
Core body temp falls
What is the clinical definition of hypothermia in man?
Core temperature <= 35 degC
What happens in body when above the TNZ?
Heat gain from environment/metabolic processes exceed heat loss
Incr core temperature
Evap of water from body surface = loss of heat
How much energy is required to transform 1L water into water vapour?
2500 kJ/L
What is clinical definition of hyperthermia in humans?
Core body temp >= 40 deg C
What are the 4 mechanisms of increasing heat production?
Increased activity
Non-shivering thermogenesis
Metabolic acclimitisation/adaptation
Increased feeding
What is an example of increasing activity to increase heat production?
Stamping of feet
Rubbing of hands
Shivering
Which muscles first show shivering?
Extensor muscles
Proximal muscles
Of upper limbs and trunk
What occurs in advanced shivering?
Jaw muscles shiver
Teeth chatter
How much can shivering increase heat production?
5 x
What is downside of shivering?
Exhausting
Burden on energy reserves
Cannot be sustained over long time
What receptors are the main stimulus for shivering?
Skin receptors
Which receptors influence onset and extent of shivering?
Peripheral and central thermoreceptors
What is non-shivering thermogenesis?
Heat producing mechanism which liberates energy through processes not involving muscular contraction
What is BAT?
Brown adipose tissue