Computer Simulation of Heat Transfer in Different Tissue Layers of Body Extremities Under Heat Stress in Deep Anesthetic Condition

Abstract

Many mathematical models of thermoregulation in humans have been developed, so far. These models appeared to be very useful tools for studying temperature regulation in humans under adverse environmental conditions. However, no one discussed the heat transfer characteristics of denervated subjects. Thus, the present study is concerned with aspects of the passive system for denervated subjects: (1) modeling the human body extremities (2) modeling heat transport mechanism within the body and at its periphery. The present model was simulated using the software (Wintherm 8.0, Thermoanalytics, USA) for different body segments to predict the heat flow between body core and skin surface with changes in environmental temperature with fixed relative humidity and wind velocity. The simulated model for comparative study of internal temperature distribution of hand, arm, leg and feet segments yielded remarkably good results and observed to be in trends with previously cited work under ambient environmental condition and at controlled room temperature. Models could be used to measure the temperature distribution in human limbs during local hyperthermia and to investigate the interaction between limbs and the thermal environment.