Question

Total Body Heat = Hv + Hc + Hr + He + Hs. Explain the individual components of this statement and their impact on an animal.

Answer 1

H_total = H_v + H_c + H_r + H_e + H_s

H_v = heat produced by metabolism (+)

H_c = heat loss/gain by conduction and convection (+/-)

H_r = heat transfer via radiation (+/-)

H_e = heat loss by evaporation (-)

H_s = stored heat (+) se

Effects of these parameters on the Animal:

Total body temperature depends on the amount of heat present in per unit mass tissue. This amount of body heat mainly depends on the heat produces by metabolism of living organisms and the heat transfer by the surrounding environment. The unit of the total body heat is Cal/°C/g. Heat generated through metabolism by using the energy storage molecule or ATP. Conversion of ATP to ADP generates the energy which actually helps to sustain all biochemical reaction inside the body. With the decrease in metabolic rate the generation of ATP decreases and thus the rate of heat production. This condition can be tolerated up to a certain level for organism after that different organ system started to work properly.

Heat transfer by the surrounding environment may be positive or negative. Heat can be transferred mainly three ways conduction (Where heat is transferred between two objects through the contact point between them), Radiation (Where heat transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves), Evaporation (Transfer of body heat due to conversion of body fluid or part of body fluid to gaseous state ). For example through sweating or panting heat is dispersed to the outer environment. Heat storage plays an important role in organisms. Heat can be stored by changing the transfer methods. By decreasing body surface area or presence of insulator on body surface (Far, feathers etc.) helps to store more body heat.