Basal body temperature simplified

The body regulates temperature through a process called thermoregulation, which is controlled by the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus receives signals from temperature receptors in the skin and organs, and then activates responses to maintain the body's core temperature within a narrow range.

There are two main ways the body regulates temperature:

1. Heat conservation: In cold environments, the body conserves heat by constricting blood vessels in the skin, reducing blood flow to the skin's surface, and by shivering, which generates heat through muscle contractions.

2. Heat dissipation: In warm environments, the body dissipates heat by dilating blood vessels in the skin, increasing blood flow to the skin's surface, and by sweating, which cools the skin as it evaporates.

The body also responds to changes in temperature by adjusting metabolic rate, the rate at which energy is used by the body's cells. In response to cold temperatures, the body increases metabolic rate to generate more heat, while in response to warm temperatures, the body decreases metabolic rate to conserve energy.

Additionally, the body's temperature regulation can be affected by hormones, such as thyroid hormone, and by the immune system's response to infection, which can cause fever.

See the tagged video more information on thermoregulation and homeostasis!

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