normotermikus

Normotermikus, or normothermic, describes a condition in which an organism, tissue, or environment maintains a normal body temperature within the species-specific range. The term is used across biology, medicine, and related fields to distinguish standard thermoregulation from hypo- or hyperthermic states. In humans and many mammals, normal core body temperature is near 37 degrees Celsius, with individual ranges typically cited as roughly 36.5 to 37.5°C, though readings can vary by time of day, activity, age, and measurement method.

In physiology, thermoregulation is governed by the hypothalamus, which integrates heat production from metabolism and behavior with heat loss through vasodilation, sweating, and other mechanisms. Deviations from normothermia can indicate illness or environmental stress. Mild deviations are common and often transient, while sustained hypothermia or hyperthermia can impair cellular function and organ systems and may require intervention.

Clinically, maintaining normothermia is a common goal during anesthesia and surgery to reduce complications such as coagulopathy, infection, and wound healing impairment. Conversely, deliberate induction of hypo- or hyperthermia is used in certain medical and research contexts for organ protection, metabolic studies, or experimental conditions. Normothermic procedures include normothermic organ perfusion, where donor organs are kept at body temperature with circulating fluids to preserve function and viability.

Measurement of temperature for assessing normothermia typically relies on core temperature indicators—rectal, esophageal, or tympanic readings—while skin temperatures can offer supplementary information. In comparative biology, normothermy is contrasted with endothermy and ectothermy, reflecting different strategies for maintaining body temperature.

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