Question

What happens when the temperature of the body drops due to external cold?

Answer 1

Hypothermia:

1. Hypothermia is a condition when the temperature of the body drops due to external cold.
2. When body temperature drops due to cold outside, an important protective factor is vasoconstriction of blood vessels and skin.
3. This lowers the surface temperature by providing an insulating layer between the outside environment and the core temperature.
4. Likewise, blood flow increases with increased temperature, which maximizes evaporation and radiation loss.
5. The main adjustments to cold are shivering to increase thermogenesis and constriction of cutaneous and peripheral blood vessels.
6. This helps to minimize heat loss through the skin and thus conduction of blood to vital structures within.