Thermophysiology
Thermophysiology is the branch of physiology that studies how organisms generate, regulate, and measure body temperature in response to internal and environmental conditions. It covers the mechanisms by which animals maintain thermal stability, as well as how temperature affects metabolism, organ function, and behavior. A central distinction is between endotherms, which generate metabolic heat to sustain a relatively constant internal temperature, and ectotherms, whose body temperature largely tracks the ambient environment. Within endotherms, homeothermy refers to a stable core temperature, while some species exhibit more variable thermal states.
Core control is centered in the hypothalamus, which integrates thermal signals and coordinates responses such as
Thermophysiology also addresses acclimation and acclimatization to seasonal or environmental changes, as well as fever and