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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
Equipments Used to Measure Body Temperature01:13

Equipments Used to Measure Body Temperature

Body temperature can be assessed using various devices and measured in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
Glass-bulb Thermometer:
Glass-bulb thermometers are hollow glass tubes with a bulb tip containing liquid such as ethanol or mercury. Historically, glass bulb mercury thermometers were the standard device to measure body temperature. Today, mercury thermometers are prohibited in many countries due to the hazardous effects of mercury and the risk of exposure if the glass bulb breaks. In general,...
Assessing Body Temperature - Rectal01:27

Assessing Body Temperature - Rectal

Rectal temperature measurement is considered the most precise method for assessing core body temperature and typically registers higher than oral temperature. For adults, the rectal thermometer should be inserted 1 to 1.5 inches into the rectum to obtain the most accurate reading.
Follow these steps for rectal temperature assessment:
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and don clean gloves to prevent cross-infection.
Step 2: Position the patient in a side-lying position to better visualize the rectal...
Temperature Measurement Sites01:14

Temperature 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...
Assessing Body Temperature - Temporal Artery01:19

Assessing Body Temperature - Temporal Artery

Here is a stepwise guide to assessing the body temperature at the temporal artery using a temporal artery thermometer
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and don a fresh pair of gloves to prevent cross-infection and ensure patient safety.
Step 2: Explain the procedure to the patient to establish trust. Clear communication establishes trust with the patient, ensures they understand what to expect, promotes cooperation, and enhances comfort during the procedure.  
Step 3: Assess the patient's forehead...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Using a Combination of Indirect Calorimetry, Infrared Thermography, and Blood Glucose Levels to Measure Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis in Humans
04:54

Using a Combination of Indirect Calorimetry, Infrared Thermography, and Blood Glucose Levels to Measure Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis in Humans

Published on: June 2, 2023

Estimating changes in volume-weighted mean body temperature using thermometry with an individualized correction

Ollie Jay1, Michel B DuCharme, Paul Webb

  • 1Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ojay@uottawa.ca

American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
|May 28, 2010
PubMed
Summary

This study accurately estimates body temperature changes by accounting for metabolic heat production, body surface area, and environmental conditions. The findings improve thermometry models for better heat balance assessment during exercise.

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Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Thermoregulation
  • Exercise Science

Background:

  • Accurate measurement of core body temperature is crucial for understanding thermoregulation during exercise.
  • Existing thermometry models using core and skin temperatures have estimation errors.
  • Personal and environmental factors may influence these estimation errors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if personal (metabolic heat production, body surface area, body fat percentage) and environmental (Oxford index) parameters can account for the estimation error in volume-weighted mean body temperature (DeltaT(b)) using a two-compartment thermometry model.
  • To develop and validate a model that improves the accuracy of DeltaT(b) estimation.

Main Methods:

  • Whole body calorimetry was used to directly measure DeltaT(b) in experimental and validation groups during cycle ergometry under various thermal conditions.
  • A two-compartment model using rectal (core) and mean skin temperature (shell) was employed.
  • Stepwise linear regression analyzed the association between estimation error (X(0)) and personal/environmental parameters in the experimental group.
  • Regression models were used to predict and adjust DeltaT(b) in the validation group.

Main Results:

  • Metabolic heat production (M - W), body surface area (BSA), and Oxford index significantly correlated with the thermometric estimation error (X(0)) at all time points and weightings.
  • Body fat percentage (%fat) and body surface area-to-mass ratio (BSA/BM) did not significantly correlate with X(0).
  • The adjusted DeltaT(b) (DeltaT(b)_(adj)) using a 0.66/0.34 core/shell weighting significantly improved accuracy, explaining 74-84% of the variation in DeltaT(b) from calorimetry in the validation group.

Conclusions:

  • Personal factors like metabolic heat production and body surface area, along with environmental conditions, are key determinants of thermometry model accuracy for estimating body temperature during exercise.
  • The developed model successfully adjusted DeltaT(b) estimations, significantly enhancing their reliability.
  • This research provides a more accurate method for assessing body heat balance in diverse environmental conditions and exercise intensities.