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Related Concept Videos

Thermosensation01:43

Thermosensation

Peripheral thermosensation is the perception of external temperature. A change in temperature (on the surface of the skin and other tissues) is detected by a family of temperature-sensitive ion channels called Transient Receptor Potential, or TRP, receptors. These receptors are located on free nerve endings. Those detecting cold temperatures are closer to the surface of the skin than the nerve endings detecting warmth. These thermoTRP channels, while temperature selective, have relatively...
Body Temperature01:25

Body Temperature

The body's temperature, measured in degrees, is determined by the balance between heat production and dissipation to the surrounding environment. For instance, if exercising vigorously, the body will produce more heat, causing sweat and dissipating that heat. Despite extreme environmental conditions and physical exertion, the human temperature-control system maintains a constant core body temperature (the temperature of deep tissues, which are the tissues located beneath the skin and other...
What is Homeostasis?01:16

What is Homeostasis?

Maintaining homeostasis requires that the body continuously maintain its internal conditions. Each physiological condition has a particular set point, from body temperature to blood pressure to levels of certain nutrients. A set point is the physiological value around which the normal range fluctuates. A normal range is a restricted set of values that is optimally healthful and stable. For example, the set point for normal human body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F). Physiological...
Body Temperature01:07

Body Temperature

Body temperature reflects the equilibrium between heat production and heat loss within the body. Most heat is generated by metabolically active tissues, particularly the liver, heart, brain, kidneys, and endocrine organs. At rest, skeletal muscles contribute 20–30% of total heat production, but during vigorous exercise, this can increase up to 30–40 times.
The average body temperature is approximately 37°C (98.6°F) and typically ranges from 36.1–37.2°C (97–99°F), remaining relatively stable...
Thermoregulation01:26

Thermoregulation

The human body has a sophisticated thermoregulation system that employs negative feedback mechanisms to maintain an optimal core temperature. When the core temperature drops, peripheral and central thermoreceptors send signals to the hypothalamus, activating the heat-promoting center. This center triggers several responses aimed at increasing the core temperature. First, vasoconstriction reduces the flow of warm blood from internal organs to the skin so that the heat is not lost from the skin,...
Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature01:19

Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature

Hyperthermia occurs when the body's temperature becomes unusually high, often due to heat exposure, intense physical activity, or certain illnesses. This condition can create a dangerous cycle where elevated body temperature increases the metabolic rate, generating more heat and potentially leading to organ failure and brain damage. A severe form of hyperthermia, called heat stroke, can raise body temperature to life-threatening levels. Fever, on the other hand, is a controlled form of...

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A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice
08:35

A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice

Published on: March 17, 2015

A thermosensory pathway that controls body temperature.

Kazuhiro Nakamura1, Shaun F Morrison

  • 1Neurological Sciences Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA. nakamura@ohsu.edu

Nature Neuroscience
|December 18, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Researchers discovered a new neural pathway crucial for regulating body temperature. This somatosensory pathway transmits skin temperature signals to the brain, enabling essential thermoregulatory responses for survival.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology
  • Homeostasis

Background:

  • Maintaining stable body temperature is vital for survival.
  • The nervous system controls thermoregulation in response to environmental changes.
  • The afferent pathways involved in thermoregulation are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize the somatosensory pathway responsible for thermoregulatory reflexes.
  • To elucidate the role of specific neurons in transmitting cutaneous temperature information.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo electrophysiological recordings in rats.
  • Anatomical tracing techniques in rats.
  • Investigating neuronal signaling from spinal cord to the preoptic area.

Main Results:

  • Identified lateral parabrachial neurons as key integrators of cutaneous thermal signals.
  • Demonstrated glutamatergic transmission from spinal somatosensory neurons to the preoptic area.
  • Showed this pathway mediates sympathetic, shivering, metabolic, and cardiac responses to cold.

Conclusions:

  • A novel 'thermoregulatory afferent' pathway, parallel to the sensory perception pathway, has been identified.
  • This pathway is critical for initiating physiological responses to maintain thermal homeostasis.
  • Findings advance understanding of somatosensory systems and survival mechanisms.