The Temperature Regulatory System

Abstract

Temperature regulation has been demonstrated to occur through two processes: (1) physiological and (2) behavioral. Behavioral temperature regulation plays its greatest role in coping with cold environments, whereas both physiological and behavioral temperature regulation operate in hot environments, with physiological regulation perhaps playing the dominant role. Exercise induces both physiological and behavioral regulation by altering heat production, blood flow redistribution for convective heat transfer, and sweating. In this chapter little attention will be paid to behavioral regulation, but many of those who have contributed to our current understanding of physiological regulation and processes of heat exchange will be identified. Where possible those who first proposed a concept will be featured as well as some of those who either broadened the concept or forcibly brought it to the attention of other investigators through definitive experimentation. Since the literature on temperature regulation and heat exchange is so vast, many investigators who have made significant contributions will not be identified because of space limitations. An apology is hereby made for their exclusion. Focusing on the early research means that many relatively recent and current studies will not be covered; the reader is referred to the excellent reviews that have appeared such as the recent (1996) Handbook of Physiology, Section 4, Environmental Physiology edited by Fregley and Blatteis (40).