Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Decreased Body Temperature01:29

Decreased Body Temperature

A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by sustained extreme cold exposure, and severe...
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...
Methods of reducing fever01:22

Methods of reducing fever

The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Factors Affecting Body Temperature01:28

Factors 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:
Increased Body Temperature01:25

Increased 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.
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,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Ba'alat.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015
Same author

Ba'alat.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015
Same author

Ba'alat.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015
Same author

Ba'alat.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015
Same author

Ba'alat.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015
Same author

Báalat 6.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2015
Same journal

Cause of a fatal multi-organ fat embolism syndrome in a patient with LAMA2-associated congenital muscular dystrophy.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2026
Same journal

Fatal injury caused by a homemade pepper grinder.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2026
Same journal

Comment on "Radiological evidence in legal contexts: forensic versus clinical reporting in cases involving living victims of violent crime".

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2026
Same journal

Giant jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) in a young female: a fatal case of diagnostic delay revealed at autopsy.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2026
Same journal

Post-mortem supravital skeletal muscle excitability for early post-mortem interval estimation: a scoping review and methodological map.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2026
Same journal

Multiphase post-mortem CT angiography (MPMCTA) in sudden natural death: diagnostic contribution and workflow impact in a forensic autopsy series.

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms
05:00

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms

Published on: March 3, 2021

Hypothermia.

Elisabeth E Turk1

  • 1Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität des Saarlandes, Gebäude 42, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany. Elisabeth.tuerk@uks.eu

Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
|February 13, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temperature, presents forensic experts with complex challenges due to subtle or absent physical signs. Understanding its role in fatalities is crucial for accurate casework.

More Related Videos

In vitro Assessment of Myocardial Protection following Hypothermia-Preconditioning in a Human Cardiac Myocytes Model
08:22

In vitro Assessment of Myocardial Protection following Hypothermia-Preconditioning in a Human Cardiac Myocytes Model

Published on: October 27, 2020

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management
06:43

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Published on: November 21, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms
05:00

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms

Published on: March 3, 2021

In vitro Assessment of Myocardial Protection following Hypothermia-Preconditioning in a Human Cardiac Myocytes Model
08:22

In vitro Assessment of Myocardial Protection following Hypothermia-Preconditioning in a Human Cardiac Myocytes Model

Published on: October 27, 2020

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management
06:43

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Published on: November 21, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Medicine
  • Pathology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature drop below 35°C, a potentially fatal condition.
  • Forensic casework involving hypothermia is challenging due to complex nature and nonspecific morphological findings.
  • Hypothermia is relevant in drug/alcohol fatalities, homeless cases, immersion deaths, accidents, and abuse/neglect cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of the pathophysiological aspects of hypothermia.
  • To highlight key aspects of hypothermia relevant to forensic medical casework.
  • To aid forensic specialists in identifying and evaluating hypothermia-related deaths.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on hypothermia pathophysiology.
  • Analysis of forensic case studies involving hypothermia.
  • Discussion of diagnostic challenges and indicators in forensic investigations.

Main Results:

  • Pathophysiological changes associated with hypothermia detailed.
  • Forensic significance of phenomena like terminal burrowing and paradoxical undressing discussed.
  • Contribution of hypothermia to cause of death in various scenarios elucidated.

Conclusions:

  • Hypothermia requires careful consideration in forensic investigations, especially when morphological findings are minimal.
  • Understanding the complex interplay of factors contributing to hypothermia is vital for accurate forensic assessments.
  • This review offers insights into pathophysiological mechanisms and forensic relevance for improved casework.