Temperature Regulation
Temperature Regulation
Temperature Regulation
Definitions
• Core Temperature
– Measured as oral, aural, or rectal temperature
– Temperature of deep tissues of the body
– Remains relatively constant (1ºF or 0.6ºC) unless
a person develops a febrile condition
– Nude person can maintain core temperature even
when exposed to temperatures as low as 55ºF or as
high as 130ºF in dry air
• Skin Temperature
– Rises and falls with the temperature of the
surroundings
Definitions
• Core Temperature
– Measured as oral, aural, or rectal temperature
– Temperature of deep tissues of the body
– Remains relatively constant (1ºF or 0.6ºC) unless
a person develops a febrile condition
– Nude person can maintain core temperature even
when exposed to temperatures as low as 55ºF or as
high as 130ºF in dry air
• Skin Temperature
– Rises and falls with the temperature of the
surroundings
REGULATION OF BODY TEMPERATURE
• Insulation Systems
– Skin and subcutaneous tissue (i.e., fat)
• Blood Flow
– Cutaneous circulation
How Fast Is Heat Loss From the
Skin to the Surrounding
Environment
• Radiation
• Conduction
• Evaporation
Definitions
• Radiation
– Loss of heat by infrared heat rays (5-20m or 10-
20X wavelength of visible light)
• Conduction
– Loss of heat from the body to a solid object
• Evaporation
– Loss of heat from the body through water vapor to
the surrounding atmosphere
• Convection
– Effects of changes in the external environment (e.g.,
wind and water)
“Wind Chill Factor”
• Effect of wind on skin temperature –
temperature of calm air that would
produce equivalent cooling of exposed
skin
• Cooling effect of air convection equals
the square root of the wind velocity
– For example, air temperature feels twice as
cold at a wind velocity of 4 mph than if the
wind velocity is 1 mph
ºF = 35.74 + 0.6215T - 35.75V(100.16) + 0.4275V(100.16)