Thermoregulation

Thermoregulation is the set of processes by which an organism maintains or adjusts body temperature despite environmental changes and internal heat production. It combines heat production, heat exchange, and behavioral responses.

Hypothalamus: A brain region that regulates internal states, including body temperature, hunger, and hormone release. It integrates temperature signals and coordinates many autonomic responses in mammals.
Homeostasis: The regulation of internal conditions within ranges compatible with an organism's functioning. Thermoregulation is one form of homeostasis, alongside control of variables such as blood glucose.
Endothermy: A strategy in which metabolic heat makes a substantial contribution to body temperature. Many mammals and birds regulate temperature partly by producing internal heat.
Thermal acclimation: A reversible physiological adjustment to a changed temperature environment. Acclimation can alter an organism's thermoregulatory capacity over days or weeks.
Countercurrent heat exchange: Heat transfer between fluids flowing in opposite directions through adjacent vessels or channels. It conserves heat in the limbs of animals exposed to cold water or air.
Thermoreceptor: A sensory receptor that responds to changes in temperature. Thermoreceptors detect internal and external temperatures that trigger thermoregulatory responses.
Thermal energy: The energy associated with the random motion of particles in matter. Changes in body temperature reflect changes in the body's thermal energy.
Ectothermy: A strategy in which body temperature depends largely on heat exchange with the environment. Ectotherms often rely more heavily on environmental conditions and behavior than metabolic heating.
Heat stress: A condition in which heat gain exceeds an organism's ability to dissipate it safely. It occurs when thermoregulatory defenses cannot keep body temperature within a safe range.
Gular fluttering: Rapid vibration of the throat region that promotes evaporative cooling in some birds. Birds can shed heat this way without relying on sweat glands.

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