Homeostasis and Thermoregulation

• Homeostasis?

  • Is the tendency to resist change in order to maintain a stable, relatively constant internal environment.
• Thermoregulation

  • Temperature homeostasis – body’s ability to maintain at 37 degrees Celsius, which is the optimal level for us to survive.
  • Thermoreceptors in the skin and brain monitor body temperature
  • Signals are sent to areas of the body to adjust body temperature
• Hypothermia

  • Exposure to cold environments
  • Shivering and vasoconstriction occurs to keep body warm
• Hypothermia symptoms

  • Shivering
  • Confusion
  • Weak pulse
  • Loss of coordination
• Hypothermia treatment

  • Remove any wet clothes and rewarm person with extra clothing/blankets
  • Move person to dry shelter
  • If unconscious, call 000. Start CPR if they are not breathing.
• Hyperthermia?

  • Develops when the body gains more heat than it loses
  • Tends to occur in 3 stages – heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke
• Heat cramps

  Occur in specific muscles due to water loss and imbalance of electrolytes
• Heat exhaustion

  More serious, due to prolonged sweating
• Heat stroke

  Can be fatal, core temperature is greater than 40 degrees
• Hyperthermia treatment


  • Remove athlete from heat source, rehydrate and replenish electrolytes
  • If unconscious - call 000, apply ice packs to major arteries and place cold, water-soaked items over athletes body to cool the blood