where is the body thermostat located?

Question

98.6 degrees seems like a precise temperature for the human body. what controls this temperature and how did evoloution design & arrive at this exact temperature? what would happen if it was 92.8?

Answer 1

It's the hypothalamus, see the first reference. For humans, 98.6 degrees F. is an average. It varies by individual, activity level, infection, and so on. It's a temperature at which human metabolic systems work well. We can't tell whether this temperature choice is a result of evolution or design. It can vary considerably for short periods of time (hours to days) without permanent harm. The thyroid gland has a particularly strong influence on body temperature. A low body temperature (along with a low metabolic rate) is a symptom of a thyroid deficiency.

Answer 2

I can answer the last question, if you know anything about pools you would know that the higher the Ph level in the water, the cleaner it is... thats why we add chlorine to it.

Well our bodies are the same way, we have a biological Ph level which is set by the normal body tempature 98.6.
If your body were to drop to 92.8, your Ph level would raise (meaning less cleanliness) and chemical waste would build up in your body, and you would slowly deteriate just as if you would as if you were dead.

It would also be dangerous if your body tempature were to raise too high, your Ph level could rise, and wipe out alot of important nutrients and helpful things in your body.

How do I know all of this?
We spent like 2 days on it in Anatomy LOL

Hope this info is helpful

Answer 3

the bodies thermostat is called the hypothalamous, and which is located just above the brain stem.

the purpose of the hypothalamous ios to maintain a bod'es homeostasis, that is maintain a stabel internal environment for the bodies cells, despie differing external conditions, such as temperature outside, moisture etc.

the temperature is what is optimal for human enzymes to catalyse matabolic processes, critical for life. any lower a temperature, and the rate of these metabolic reactions will drop, due to slower diffusion speed of moleclues associated. similarly a raise in temperature will denature the enzyme, which means it can no longer bind to its substrate, hence again lower rate of reactions.

why is this question in physiics? it is biology

Answer 4

I think it is the hippocampus in the brain which regulates body temperature