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Thermoneutral Zone

Meaning

The thermoneutral zone (TNZ) is the specific range of ambient environmental temperatures where a human or other homeothermic organism can maintain its core body temperature solely through the regulation of non-evaporative heat loss, requiring minimal energy expenditure for thermoregulation. Within this zone, metabolic rate is at its basal minimum, as the body does not need to actively increase heat production (thermogenesis) or significantly increase evaporative cooling (sweating). Understanding the TNZ is vital for optimizing metabolic efficiency and energy balance.