Torsion dystonia

Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is very different. This process is one aspect of homeostasis: a dynamic state of stability between an animal's internal environment and its external environment (the study of such processes in zoology has been called ecophysiology or physiological ecology). If the body is unable to maintain a normal temperature and it increases significantly above normal, a condition known as hyperthermia occurs.

Mechanisms of thermoregulation

In warm-blooded animals, such as birds and mammals, internal mechanisms of thermoregulation allow them to maintain constant body temperatures, regardless of external temperatures. This process is generally achieved through a coordinated response of the nervous system and endocrine system.

Thermoregulation in humans

In humans, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain, regulates the rest of the body. It works like a thermostat. When the body's temperature drops, the hypothalamus sends signals to different parts of the body to create heat. This includes shivering, which generates heat through muscle activity, and vasoconstriction, the narrowing of blood vessels in the skin, which reduces heat loss.

Disorders of thermoregulation

Disorders of thermoregulation can range from mild heat cramps and heat exhaustion to life-threatening heat stroke. On the other end of the spectrum, hypothermia, which occurs when the body's temperature drops significantly below normal, can also be life-threatening.

See also

• Homeostasis
• Hyperthermia
• Hypothermia
• Endocrine system
• Nervous system

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