Body Temperature Regulation

The human body operates best at 37°C (98.6°F), considering its optimal temperature. However, the body is constantly working to maintain this temperature, which is affected by both internal processes (such as active metabolism) and external conditions (the ambient temperature). To maintain such thermal equilibrium, the human body uses homeostatic processes.

Thermoreceptors in the skin detect changes in temperature and send a signal through their axons to the hypothalamus, which triggers either a thermolytic response to cool down or a process to warm up the body. Depending on whether the body is cooling down or heating up, different parts of the hypothalamus will react to this signal from the sensors. When the body is heating up, the posterior hypothalamus will send signals to cool down the body through sweat and vasodilatation. And when cooling down, the anterior hypothalamus will signal to raise body temperature by vasoconstriction and shivering.

In both cases, the reaction from the effectors usually allows the body to reach a stable state, reaching an active thermal equilibrium to limit damage to the body. However, if the situation is sustained, the body might not be able to cope as well in the long term, leading to for example to potentially lethal heat strokes or hypothermia.