Body Temperature Flashcards
(31 cards)
It reflects the balance between the heat produced and the heat loss from the body.
Body temperature
What are the two kinds of body temperature?
Core Temperature & Surface Temperature
It is the temperature of the deep tissues of the body, such as the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity.
Core temperature
It is the temperature of the skin, the subcutaneous tissue, and fat.
Surface temperature
The temperature that remains relatively constant.
Core temperature
The temperature that rises and falls in response to the environment.
Surface temperature
When is a person in heat balance?
When the amount of heat produced by the body equals the amount of heat lost
How is heat lost from the body?
Heat is lost through radiation, conduction, convection, and evaporation.
Which age group are greatly influenced by the temperature of the environment and must be protected from extreme changes?
Infants
Why are older people, particularly those over 75 years, are at risk of hypothermia?
Variety of reasons such as:
- Inadequate diet
- Loss of subcutaneous fat
- Lack of activity
- Reduced thermoregulatory efficiency
The point of highest body temperature is usually reached between which time?
1600 and 1800 hours (4:00 PM and 6:00 PM)
The lowest point of body temperature is reached during which time?
During sleep between 0400 and 0600 hours (4:00 AM and 6:00 AM)
What is the normal range of body temperature for adults?
36 C and 37.5 C (96.8 F and 99.5 F)
A body temperature above the usual range
Pyrexia (Hyperthermia)
A very high fever, such as 41 C
Hyperpyrexia
How do you refer a patient who has a fever?
Febrile
How do you refer a patient who has no fever?
Afebrile
What are the four common types of fever?
- Intermittent
- Remittent
- Relapsing
- Constant
A type of fever where the body temperature alternates at regular intervals between periods of fever and periods of normal or subnormal temperatures.
Intermittent fever
A type of fever where a wide range of temperature fluctuations occurs over a 24-hour period, all of which are above normal.
Remittent fever
A type of fever where short febrile periods of a few days are interspersed with periods of 1 or 2 days of normal temperature.
Relapsing fever
A type of fever where the body temperature fluctuates minimally but always remains above normal.
Constant fever
It is a temperature that rises to fever level rapidly following a normal temperature and then returns to normal within a few hours.
Fever spike
What are some conditions in which an elevated temperature is not a true fever?
Two examples:
1) heat exhaustion
2) heat stroke
