answersLogoWhite

0

The human body normally maintains a set body temperature. How does this happen? How do we generate additional heat when our body is too cold, and how do we cool off when we are too hot? Although part of this response is voluntary, how do we really know that we are cold, and what is our brain doing involuntarily to keep temperatures constant. At times our temperature will move away from the set point, whether through environmental effects such as exposure to cold or internal processes including fever and exercise.

Humans are homeotherms, maintaining an average core temperature of 37 +/- 0.5 degrees Celsius. Core temperature varies slightly due to environmental and metabolic factors. Exercise or fever may raise core temperature by up to three degrees, while exposure to cold may lower core temperature by a degree. Beyond these boundaries, the human is susceptible to heat stroke (elevated temperature) or hypothermia, both of which are life threatening conditions.

While core temperature is tightly regulated, skin temperature varies greatly in response to metabolism and the environment. Temperature receptors in the skin (cold and hot) detect these changes, initiating compensatory mechanisms through the central nervous system.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

The organ that best regulates body temperature is the?

The hypothalamus, located in the brain, is the primary organ that regulates body temperature. It acts as the body's thermostat, receiving signals from the body and adjusting mechanisms such as sweating or shivering to maintain a stable internal temperature.


What is the body's largest organ?

The skin is the body's largest organ. It serves as a protective barrier against external elements, helps regulate body temperature, and contains sensory receptors for touch, temperature, and pain.


what organ system is your brain found in?

The brain is part of the nervous system, which controls or monitors all of the other organ systems.


The organ that protects and regulates the temperature of the testes?

The pouch of skin that contains the testes is called the scrotum.


What organ contains villi?

The organ that contains the villi is the small intestine.


Which organ contains root hair tissues?

Root organ contains root hair tissues


Which organ systems contains your organ?

The genitourinary system.


What sense organ do you use for feel?

The skin is the sense organ we primarily use for the sense of touch or feel. It contains various receptors that detect pressure, temperature, and pain, sending signals to the brain for interpretation.


What is the organ the aids in temperature regulation?

There is no such organ.


Which organ system contains the retina?

The eye contains the Retina


What is the sense organ used for feeling?

The sense organ used for feeling is the skin. The skin contains receptors that can detect pressure, temperature, pain, and touch, allowing us to sense our environment and feel different sensations.


Which organ contains the thalamus?

Brain