Recent advances in thermoregulation
Maintaining a body temperature at 37°C is critical to human survival. For example, when a body temperature reaches 42°C, cytotoxicity occurs with protein denaturation that results in end-organ failure and neuronal impairment. When a body temperature drops below 27°C, it can equally be fatal due to neuromuscular, cardiovascular, hematological, and respiratory changes. Authors from Ireland bring up some interesting facts in the recent publication and summarize the basic concepts of thermoregulation. So is there one particular organ that controls physiological responses to heat and cold stress, including vasodilation and vasoconstriction, sweating, piloerection, shivering, and altered behavior? The hypothalamus is the one- it is a central integration center for thermoregulation. Details by the link!