1. THERMOREGULATION CONTROL OF
BODY TEMPERATURE
By Ahmad Fauzan
E-mail: d.344.af@gmail.com
Lecturer and Researcher
Nursing Basic Science Department
Muhammadiyah Gombong University

2. CORE TEMPERATURE
 The core temperature of the human body
is 37°C
 The core of the human body includes the
organs of the thorax, abdomen and the
head
 This is where the vital organs are located
 Their enzyme systems must operate in
optimum conditions
 The periphery of the body can withstand
some deviation from the core temperature

3. HEAT LOSS AND HEAT GAIN
The body must balance its heat budget
Heat is gained:
 by conduction from warm air surrounding the body
 by the body’s metabolic activity which generates heat
e.g. when muscle move
Heat is lost:
 by conduction and radiation to cold air (or water)
 by evaporation of sweat from the body surface
(c.f. properties of water)
 Humans can also affect their body temperature by
changing their behaviour
e.g. wearing different clothes, seeking shade

4. MAINTAINING THE BODY TEMPERATURE
Keeping warm Staying cool
Increased Increase blood flow to
insulation, subcutaneous skin, increases conduction
fat reduces the conduction and radiation of heat from
of heat from the body the body
Reduced sweating Increased sweat
decreases evaporation secretion, increases
evaporation
Increased shivering, Reduced activity
increases heat produced by
muscle tissue 2 to 5 times © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

5. Core body
temperature
>37°C
Thermoreceptors
Hypothalamus
nerves Muscles of
Sweat skin arteriole
glands walls relax
Muscles increase Skin arteries dilate
reduce secretion More blood to the
activity skin.
More radiation &
conduction of heat
More water covers the
skin.
More evaporation
Less heat generated

6. NEGATIVE Blood
FEEDBACK temperature
Muscles of
skin
Thermoreceptors arteriole
walls relax
Core body Sweat Body
nerves Return
temperature Thermoreceptors Hypothalamus glands loses to 37°C
>37°C increase heat
secretion
Muscles
reduce
activity

7. Core body
temperature
<37°C
Thermoreceptors
Hypothalamus nerves
Muscles of
nerves Sweat skin arteriole
glands walls
Muscles constrict Skin arteries
decrease constrict
shivering secretion Less blood to the
skin.
Less radiation &
conduction of heat
Less water covers the
skin.
Less evaporation
More heat
generated

8. NEGATIVE Blood
FEEDBACK temperature
Muscles of
skin
arteriole
Thermoreceptors walls
constrict Body
nerves
loses
Core body Sweat less Return
temperature Thermoreceptors Hypothalamus glands heat to 37°C
<37°C decrease
secretion
Body
Muscles gains
nerves shivering heat

9. TEMPERATURE HOMEOSTASIS
IN HUMANS