Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: paul.fr on 06/05/2007 22:26:39

Title: Body temperature and heat
Post by: paul.fr on 06/05/2007 22:26:39

If we have a body temp. Of 98.8 why do we feel hot when the air temp is 98 degrees

Title: Body temperature and heat
Post by: moonfire on 06/05/2007 22:36:07

We feel hot before the air temp is 98f

Title: Body temperature and heat
Post by: another_someone on 06/05/2007 23:55:05

We feel hot because we generate body heat, and that heat needs to be dissipated or we shall overheat.  If the outside temperature is significantly below our body temperature, we can dissapate our excess heat in order to keep our temperature down to 36 centigrade. If the outside temperature is itself close to 36 centigrade, then we cannot get rid of our own excess heat in order to keep out temperature down to 36 centigrade, so our internal temperature will rise above 36 centigrade.

If we were dead (i.e. not generating any heat from our muscles, or other internal body processes), and the outside temperature was 36 centigrade, then and only then would our body still be able to retain an internal body temperature that is the same on the inside as on the outside.