Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
08:22
Using an Ingestible Telemetric Temperature Pill to Assess Gastrointestinal Temperature During Exercise
Published on: October 7, 2015
[Body temperature and its importance as a vital constant]
Ma Nelia Soto Ruiz1, José Ma García, Blanca Marín Fernández
1Enfermería Médico-Quirúrgica, Universidad Pública de Navarra. nelia.soto@unavarra.es
Revista De Enfermeria (Barcelona, Spain)
|October 21, 2009
Summary
Maintaining stable body temperature is crucial for homeostasis. This review details thermoregulation, human homeothermy, and nursing
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Thermoregulation
- Homeostasis
Context:
- Body temperature is a critical vital sign for maintaining physiological balance.
- Human beings are homeothermic, possessing mechanisms to regulate internal temperature despite external fluctuations.
- Understanding thermoregulation is key to interpreting body temperature measurements.
Purpose:
- To review the significance of body temperature in maintaining homeostasis.
- To explore human thermoregulation mechanisms and thermal behavior.
- To highlight the importance of body temperature in nursing care and diagnosis.
Summary:
- This theoretical review emphasizes body temperature as a vital sign essential for homeostasis, typically maintained within 36.8°C ± 0.4°C.
- It details human homeothermy, physiological responses for heat production and loss, and the distinction between superficial and central temperatures.
- The review connects body temperature regulation to Virginia Henderson's 14 fundamental needs, informing nursing diagnoses for patient independence.
Impact:
- Provides a comprehensive understanding of thermoregulation and its clinical importance.
- Supports nurses in interpreting body temperature data for accurate diagnoses.
- Underscores the role of maintaining stable body temperature in achieving patient independence and well-being.
Related Concept Videos
01:07Body 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...
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...
01:25Body 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...
01:28Factors Affecting Body Temperature
As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may include:
Factors may include:
01:26Requirements for Human Life
The Earth and its atmosphere have provided humans with air, water, and food, but these are not the only requirements for survival. Humans also require a specific range of temperature and pressure that the Earth and its atmosphere provides.
Oxygen
Atmospheric air is only about 20 percent oxygen, but that oxygen is a key component of the chemical reactions that keep the body alive, including the reactions that produce ATP. Brain cells are susceptible to a lack of oxygen because they require a...
Oxygen
Atmospheric air is only about 20 percent oxygen, but that oxygen is a key component of the chemical reactions that keep the body alive, including the reactions that produce ATP. Brain cells are susceptible to a lack of oxygen because they require a...
01:25Increased Body Temperature
A body temperature above 38°C (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.
01:14Temperature Measurement Sites
A thermometer measures body temperature. The common sites for measuring body temperature are the oral cavity, axillary region, temporal artery, and skin surface, such as the forehead, abdomen, and axilla. True core body temperature is assessed in the rectum, tympanic membrane, pulmonary artery, esophagus, and urinary bladder.
Oral: When assessing oral temperature, the thermometer tip should be placed under the tongue in the posterior sublingual pocket. It offers accurate readings and can be...
Oral: When assessing oral temperature, the thermometer tip should be placed under the tongue in the posterior sublingual pocket. It offers accurate readings and can be...