Abstract

Human body temperature is controlled by the hypothalamus Neurons in both the preoptic anterior hypothalamus and the posterior hypothalamus receive two kinds of signals one from peripheral nerves that transmit information from warmth cold receptors in the skin and the other from the temperature of the blood bathing the region These two types of signals are integrated by the thermoregulatory center of the hypothalamus to maintain normal temperature In a neutral temperature environment the metabolic rate of humans produces more heat than is necessary to maintain the core body temperature in the range of 36 5 37 5 C 97 7 99 5 F A normal body temperature is maintained ordinarily despite environmental variations because the hypothalamic thermoregulatory center balances the excess heat production derived from metabolic activity in muscle and the liver with heat dissipation from the skin and lungs 1