Friday, October 2, 2009

How is body heat regulated?

How is body heat regulated?
The thermoregulatory center is composed of two parts. The rostral part is a heat loss center
that is parasympathetic. The caudal part is a heat production center that is sympathetic.
Peripheral thermoreceptors in the skin and internal receptors in the abdomen and central nervous system (eNS) along with the thermoregulatory centers help to maintain a delicate balance between heat loss and production.

What is fever?

What is fever?
Fever is an increased core body temperature due to resetting of the hypothalamic thermoregulatory center to a higher temperature. The thermoregulatory center is located in the preoptic region of the rostral hypothalamus.