Thermoregulation Mechanisms

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What happens outside the healthy range
Thermoregulation mechanisms are essential as uncontrolled body temperature is physiologically detrimental (Martini, Nath, & Bartholomew, 2014, p 990). For example, if body temperature increases above 40°C, it can cause disorientation and above 42°C can cause convulsions, permanent cell damage, breakdown of cellular proteins and eventually death (Campbell, 2011; Martini, Nath, & Bartholomew, 2014, p 990).
Hyperthermia is a range of progressively more severe conditions and occurs when the body experiences overwhelming heat stress which cannot be controlled via thermoregulation mechanisms (Sergel & Singer, 2015, p572). Hyperthermia begins with heat fatigue, which occurs when body temperature exceeds 38°C …show more content…

Hypothermia occurs when body temperature drops below 35°C and causes slower cellular function thus lowering energy expenditure (Moskoff, 2015, p594). Hypothermia also progresses through stages, mild hypothermia results in shivering, vasoconstriction, cold diuresis, impaired judgement and generally diminished physiological function (Moskoff, 2015, p594). Moderate hypothermia is established below 32°C where consciousness is lost, pupil dilate and shivering ceases (Campbell, 2011; Moskoff, 2015, p594). If core body temperature drops to 28°C severe hypothermia ensues causing apnoea and the onset of a coma, if the temperature persists the individual will die due to ventricular fibrillation which ceases blood flow (Campbell, 2011; Moskoff, 2015, …show more content…

However, babies have an adaptation which compensates for this, they have a unique adipose tissue in their upper torso which produces non-shivering thermogenesis (Campbell, 2011; Martini, Nath, & Bartholomew, 2014, p 993). The tissue is highly vascularised and contains ‘uncoupled’ mitochondria which produce heat rather than ATP (Campbell, 2011). As adipose tissue is a good insulator of heat, the heat produced by the mitochondria is ‘trapped’ keeping the infant warm (Campbell,

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