What is the Origin of Thermal Dysregulation?

The term is a composite of thermal, from the Greek thermē meaning "heat," and dysregulation, from the Greek prefix dys- "bad" or "difficult" and regulare "to govern." It signifies a fundamental failure in the body's sophisticated heat governance system. The concept is central to the study of autonomic and endocrine control over metabolism.

What is the Mechanism of Thermal Dysregulation?

The hypothalamus functions as the body's central thermostat, integrating thermal signals from peripheral and central receptors and initiating compensatory mechanisms like sweating, shivering, or changes in peripheral blood flow. Hormones like triiodothyronine (T3) directly influence the basal metabolic rate, which is the primary source of endogenous heat generation. Dysregulation occurs when these endocrine signals or the autonomic efferent pathways are compromised, impairing the central nervous system's ability to execute an appropriate and timely vascular or metabolic response to environmental temperature changes.

Thermal Dysregulation

Meaning

Thermal dysregulation is a physiological state characterized by a compromised ability of the body’s central and peripheral mechanisms to maintain its core temperature within the narrow, homeostatic range required for optimal cellular and metabolic function. This condition can manifest as either an inability to adequately dissipate heat, leading to hyperthermia, or an insufficient capacity to generate or conserve heat, resulting in hypothermia. Imbalances in key hormones, particularly those from the thyroid and adrenal glands, are frequent underlying causes of this regulatory failure.