How does the human body maintain temperature?

Humans are mammals, and mammals are warm-blooded animals that can maintain a relatively constant internal temperature regardless of the ambient temperature. Body temperature control is an example of homeostasis, the self-regulatory process of an organism that tends to maintain internal stability while adjusting its environment in a way that is best for survival.

The optimal temperature of the human body is 37 °C (98.6 °F), but a variety of factors can affect this value, including exposure to elements in the environment, hormones, an individual's metabolism, and disease, which can lead to too high or too low a body temperature. . Low body temperature. Body temperature is mainly regulated by the hypothalamus of the brain. Feedback about body temperature is passed to the brain through the nervous and circulatory systems (pressure-sensitive receptors in blood vessels work with the nervous system to collect and communicate blood pressure information), where respiratory rate, blood sugar levels, and metabolic rate adjust to compensate for temperature changes. Reduced muscle activity, perspiration, and heat exchange mechanisms that allow blood to circulate near the skin's surface all contribute to heat loss. The body's insulating mechanisms can reduce heat loss, including reducing blood flow to the skin and subcutaneous fat, and through the use of clothing, shelter, and external heat sources. Additionally, the body can generate heat through shivering, a response regulated by the hypothalamus. The range between high and low body temperatures constitutes the homeostatic platform—the “normal” range that sustains life. When approaching either of the two extremes, corrective actions (through negative feedback) bring the system back to normal range.

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