The physiology of heat regulation

1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (4) ◽  
pp. R838-R850 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Heat Loss ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
The Body ◽  
Temperature Heat ◽  
Calorimetric Studies ◽  
Physiological Method ◽  
Related Level ◽  
Deep Body ◽  
Body Heat

Heat regulation is presented as the physiological method of handling metabolic heat, instead of temperature regulation. Experimental evidence of heat regulation from the literature is reviewed, including more than 20 years of calorimetric studies by the author. Changes in heat production are followed by slow exponential changes in heat loss, which produce changes in body heat storage. Heat balance occurs at many levels of heat production throughout the day and night, and at each level there is a related level of rectal temperature. Heat flow can be sensed by the transcutaneous temperature gradient. The controller for heat loss appears to operate like a servomechanism, with feedback from heat loss and possibly feedforward from heat production. Physiological responses defend the body heat content, but heat content varies over a range that is related to heat load. Changes in body heat content drive deep body temperatures.

Heat Production and Heat Loss in the Dog at 8–36°C Environmental Temperature

1958 ◽  
Vol 194 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. T. Hammel ◽  
C. H. Wyndham ◽  
J. D. Hardy
Keyword(s):  
Heat Loss ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Vascular System ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Important Change ◽  
The Body ◽  
Critical Temperatures ◽  
Hot Environment ◽  
Environmental Temperatures ◽  
Made In

Metabolic and thermal responses of three dogs were made in a rapid responding calorimeter at temperatures ranging from 8°C to 36°C. These dogs were acclimatized to a kennel temperature of 27°C and had critical temperatures between 23°C and 25°C. The only physiological responses to low environmental temperatures were a moderate decrease in total heat content and an increase in heat production. The tissue conductance and the cooling constant of the fur did not effectively decrease below the levels obtaining throughout the neutral zone. In a hot environment heat loss from the respiratory tract was greatly increased. Although there was a great increase in the tissue conductance in the hot environment, conductance of heat through the tissue became decreasingly important as the air temperature approached body temperature so that panting became increasingly important for maintaining thermal balance. It is concluded that the vasomotor response of the peripheral vascular system is primarily a mechanism for dissipating excess heat produced during exercise; it is practically unimportant as a heat conserving mechanism. Effective changes in the total insulation of the fur can only be achieved by changing the surface area of the body, particularly those areas which are thinly furred, and not by any important change in the fur thickness through pilomotor activity.

SHORT-TERM THERMAL AND METABOLIC RESPONSES OF SHEEP TO RUMINAL COOLING: EFFECTS OF LEVEL OF COOLING AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 833-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. NICOL ◽  
B. A. YOUNG
Keyword(s):  
Heat Loss ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Metabolic Heat Production ◽  
Mean Body Temperature ◽  
Metabolic Heat ◽  
Reduced Body ◽  
Cooling Effects ◽  
Body Heat

In a series of studies to simulate the ingestion of cold food, the rumen of adult sheep was cooled by 0–400 kJ over 1 h. Ruminal cooling reduced body heat content, increased rate of metabolic heat production and reduced apparent rate of heat loss to the environment. On average, each 100 kJ of cooling reduced heat content by 46 kJ, increased heat production by 20 kJ and reduced heat loss by 70 kJ. Precooling thermal status of the sheep affected the magnitude of the responses to cooling. A 0.1 °C higher precooling mean body temperature decreased the response in metabolic heat production by 6 kJ and increased the reduction in body heat content by 4.6 kJ. The heat production associated with eating reduced the heat loss response to ruminal cooling but did not affect the change in heat content. Well-insulated sheep were less affected by ruminal cooling. Key words: Sheep, rumen, cooling, heat production, temperature

Human heat balance during postexercise recovery: separating metabolic and nonthermal effects

2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (5) ◽  
pp. R1586-R1592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ollie Jay ◽  
Daniel Gagnon ◽  
Michel B. DuCharme ◽  
Paul Webb ◽  
Francis D. Reardon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Loss ◽  
Core Temperature ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Heat Balance ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Total Heat ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Active Recovery ◽  
Total Heat Loss ◽  
Body Heat

Previous studies report greater postexercise heat loss responses during active recovery relative to inactive recovery despite similar core temperatures between conditions. Differences have been ascribed to nonthermal factors influencing heat loss response control since elevations in metabolism during active recovery are assumed to be insufficient to change core temperature and modify heat loss responses. However, from a heat balance perspective, different rates of total heat loss with corresponding rates of metabolism are possible at any core temperature. Seven male volunteers cycled at 75% of V̇o2peak in the Snellen whole body air calorimeter regulated at 25.0°C, 30% relative humidity (RH), for 15 min followed by 30 min of active (AR) or inactive (IR) recovery. Relative to IR, a greater rate of metabolic heat production (Ṁ − Ẇ) during AR was paralleled by a greater rate of total heat loss (ḢL) and a greater local sweat rate, despite similar esophageal temperatures between conditions. At end-recovery, rate of body heat storage, that is, [(Ṁ − Ẇ) − ḢL] approached zero similarly in both conditions, with Ṁ − Ẇ and ḢL elevated during AR by 91 ± 26 W and 93 ± 25 W, respectively. Despite a higher Ṁ − Ẇ during AR, change in body heat content from calorimetry was similar between conditions due to a slower relative decrease in ḢL during AR, suggesting an influence of nonthermal factors. In conclusion, different levels of heat loss are possible at similar core temperatures during recovery modes of different metabolic rates. Evidence for nonthermal influences upon heat loss responses must therefore be sought after accounting for differences in heat production.

Accidental Hypothermia

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 926-928
Keyword(s):  
Heat Loss ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Accidental Hypothermia ◽  
Good Judgment ◽  
Hand Coordination ◽  
Body Heat ◽  
Unfavorable Weather

Pediatricians may be able to bring the dangers of accidental hypothermia to the attention of their patients at the time of a sports, camp, or college "physical." People who spend time outdoors must learn to recognize hypothermia-producing weather and water; to know that shivering indicates heat loss exceeding available insulation and body heat production; and to understand that loss of good judgment and hand coordination soon follow uncontrollable shivering. They must not go into areas in which, without proper gear, unfavorable weather conditions or dangerous water may develop, and they must understand that most tragedies from cold result from failure to make camp or to return to safety when weather conditions become unfavorable.

External work in level and grade walking on a motor-driven treadmill

1960 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 759-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Snellen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Loss ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Total Energy Expenditure ◽  
The Body ◽  
External Work ◽  
Thermal Exchange ◽  
Level Walking ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Physical Laws

When studying a walking subject's thermal exchange with the environment, it is essential to know whether in level walking any part of the total energy expenditure is converted into external mechanical work and whether in grade walking the amount of the external work is predictable from physical laws. For this purpose an experiment was set up in which a subject walked on a motor-driven treadmill in a climatic room. In each series of measurements a subject walked uphill for 3 hours and on the level for another hour. Metabolism was kept equal in both situations. Air and wall temperatures were adjusted to the observed weighted skin temperature in order to avoid any heat exchange by radiation and convection. Heat loss by evaporation was derived from the weight loss of the subject. All measurements were carried out in a state of thermal equilibrium. In grade walking there was a difference between heat production and heat loss by evaporation. This difference equaled the caloric equivalent of the product of body weight and gained height. In level walking the heat production equaled heat loss. Hence it was concluded that in level walking all the energy is converted into heat inside the body. Submitted on April 26, 1960

Light masking of circadian rhythms of heat production, heat loss, and body temperature in squirrel monkeys

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (2) ◽  
pp. R298-R307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward L. Robinson ◽  
Charles A. Fuller
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Heat Loss ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Direct Calorimetry ◽  
Set Point ◽  
Subjective Night ◽  
Timing System ◽  
Circadian Timing System ◽  
Body Heat

Whole body heat production (HP) and heat loss (HL) were examined to determine their relative contributions to light masking of the circadian rhythm in body temperature (Tb). Squirrel monkey metabolism ( n = 6) was monitored by both indirect and direct calorimetry, with telemetered measurement of body temperature and activity. Feeding was also measured. Responses to an entraining light-dark (LD) cycle (LD 12:12) and a masking LD cycle (LD 2:2) were compared. HP and HL contributed to both the daily rhythm and the masking changes in Tb. All variables showed phase-dependent masking responses. Masking transients at L or D transitions were generally greater during subjective day; however, L masking resulted in sustained elevation of Tb, HP, and HL during subjective night. Parallel, apparently compensatory, changes of HL and HP suggest action by both the circadian timing system and light masking on Tb set point. Furthermore, transient HL increases during subjective night suggest that gain change may supplement set point regulation of Tb.

scholarly journals Sex-related differences in local and whole-body heat loss responses: Physical or physiological?

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 843-843
Author(s):  
Daniel Gagnon
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Heat Loss ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Metabolic Heat Production ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Fixed Rate ◽  
The Third ◽  
Metabolic Heat ◽  
Body Heat

The current thesis examined whether sex differences in local and whole-body heat loss are evident after accounting for confounding differences in physical characteristics and rate of metabolic heat production. Three experimental studies were performed: the first examined whole-body heat loss in males and females matched for body mass and surface area during exercise at a fixed rate of metabolic heat production; the second examined local and whole-body heat loss responses between sexes during exercise at increasing requirements for heat loss; the third examined sex-differences in local sweating and cutaneous vasodilation to given doses of pharmacological agonists, as well as during passive heating. The first study demonstrated that females exhibit a lower whole-body sudomotor thermosensitivity (553 ± 77 vs. 795 ± 85 W·°C−1, p = 0.05) during exercise performed at a fixed rate of metabolic heat production. The second study showed that whole-body sudomotor thermosensitivity is similar between sexes at a requirement for heat loss of 250 W·m−2 (496 ± 139 vs. 483 ± 185 W·m−2·°C−1, p = 0.91) and 300 W·m−2 (283 ± 70 vs. 211 ± 66 W·m−2·°C−1, p = 0.17), only becoming greater in males at a requirement for heat loss of 350 W·m−2 (197 ± 61 vs. 82 ± 27 W·m−2·°C−1, p = 0.007). In the third study, a lower sweat rate to the highest concentration of acetylcholine (0.27 ± 0.08 vs. 0.48 ± 0.13 mg·min−1·cm−2, p = 0.02) and methacholine (0.41 ± 0.09 vs. 0.57 ± 0.11 mg·min−1·cm−2, p = 0.04) employed was evidenced in females, with no differences in cholinergic sensitivity. Taken together, the results of the current thesis show that sex itself can modulate sudomotor activity, specifically the thermosensitivity of the response, during both exercise and passive heat stress. Furthermore, the results of the third study point towards a peripheral modulation of the sweat gland as a mechanism responsible for the lower sudomotor thermosensitivity in females.

Temperature gradients in pigs during whole-body hyperthermia at 42 degrees C

1979 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 712-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Dickson ◽  
A. McKenzie ◽  
K. McLeod
Keyword(s):  
Core Temperature ◽  
Brain Temperature ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Temperature Gradients ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Induction Phase ◽  
Equilibrium Conditions ◽  
Repeated Heating ◽  
Deep Body ◽  
Body Heat

Temperature was simultaneously measured by thermistors in multiple deep-body and peripheral sites in adult pigs heated continuously at 42 degrees C (rectal) and above for 4–24 h. During hyperthermia, the relations between different body temperatures were maintained and up to 1.0 degrees C separated temperature measurements at sites such as liver and bone marrow. These persistent temperature gradients must be borne in mind when evaluating tumor response in patients subjected to whole-body heating for disseminated cancer. Temperatures recorded by rectal, deep esophageal, or tympanic membrane sensors provided a reliable index of core temperature (including brain temperature) under equilibrium conditions at 42 degrees C, but only esophageal and tympanic sensors could safely be used to monitor the induction phase of hyperthermia and the adjustive changes in body-heat content required to stabilize core temperature during sustained hyperthermia. Pigs withstood repeated heating at 42 degrees C for 6 h, and recovered rapidly, but died after 24 h of hyperthermia. Pigs subjected to unrestrained heating died at 45 degrees C (esophagus).

Relationship between body heat content and finger temperature during cold exposure

2001 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 2445-2452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragan Brajkovic ◽  
Michel B. Ducharme ◽  
John Frim
Keyword(s):  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
The Body ◽  
Finger Temperature ◽  
Finger Dexterity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Finger Skin ◽  
Body Heat ◽  
Partitional Calorimetry

The purpose of the present experiment was to examine the relationship between rate of body heat storage (S˙), change in body heat content (ΔHb), extremity temperatures, and finger dexterity. S˙, ΔHb , finger skin temperature (Tfing), toe skin temperature, finger dexterity, and rectal temperature were measured during active torso heating while the subjects sat in a chair and were exposed to −25°C air. S˙ and ΔHb were measured using partitional calorimetry, rather than thermometry, which was used in the majority of previous studies. Eight men were exposed to four conditions in which the clothing covering the body or the level of torso heating was modified. After 3 h, Tfing was 34.9 ± 0.4, 31.2 ± 1.2, 18.3 ± 3.1, and 12.1 ± 0.5°C for the four conditions, whereas finger dexterity decreased by 0, 0, 26, and 39%, respectively. In contrast to some past studies, extremity comfort can be maintained, despite S˙ that is slightly negative. This study also found a direct linear relationship between ΔHb and Tfing and toe skin temperature at a negative ΔHb. In addition, ΔHb was a better indicator of the relative changes in extremity temperatures and finger dexterity over time than S˙.

Changing physiological relationships in men under acute cold stress

1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. O'Hanlon Jr. ◽  
Steven M. Horvath
Keyword(s):  
Rectal Temperature ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Older Subjects ◽  
Skin Temperatures ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Body Heat ◽  
Thigh Temperature

Thirty-four men were exposed to 8 °C for 2 h. Their reactions were studied to indicate how physiological relationships change during exposure to cold. Measurements of various body temperatures, MST, MBT, body heat content (BHC), [Formula: see text], heat production, and heart rate (HR) were made before the onset of and periodically during cold exposure. Various skin temperatures fell to different levels while rectal temperature rose slightly, then fell 0.3 °C by the end of the exposure. BHC declined by 6%, [Formula: see text] nearly doubled, [Formula: see text] and heat production increased by 66 and 75% respectively, and HR changed little during cold exposure. Relationships which changed most significantly during cold exposure were those between MST and rectal temperature, certain skin temperatures and rectal temperature, [Formula: see text] (also heat production) and BHC, [Formula: see text] and rectal temperature, and finally, those between every body temperature and the age of the subjects. Relationships which also changed were those between finger and toe temperature as well as those between [Formula: see text] (also heat production) and each of the following: [Formula: see text], rectal temperature, thigh temperature, HR, and age. These results indicated that (1) temperature in the upper extremities was actively maintained at a higher level than temperature in the lower extremities, (2) increased metabolism became a progressively more effective adaptation than redistribution of blood volume, (3) subjects with the lowest BHC tended to increase their metabolism the most, (4) [Formula: see text] was inversely related to core temperature after the latter fell below normal, (5) HR was unrelated to the increase in [Formula: see text], (6) the usual inverse relationship between age and metabolism was not found in the cold, and finally, (7) older subjects generally tended to maintain higher body temperatures than younger subjects.

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