Word parts
What it means
The hypothalamushy-poh-THAL-uh-musA small area at the base of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep and many hormones.hypo- belowthalamus inner chamber (a part of the brain)Full entry acts as the body's thermostat. When the body is too warm, the skin's blood vessels widen and the person sweats. When it is too cold, the vessels narrow, the person shivers and, in babies, special brown fat makes heat. Newborns, especially preterm ones, and older adults have weaker thermoregulation.
For the nurse
Dry a newborn right away, place them skin to skin with the parent or under a warmer, and cover the head. Keep older adults and clients after surgery warm, and report a temperature outside the normal range.
At a glance
| Spanish | termorregulación |
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Related terms
hypothalamus
A small area at the base of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep and many hormones.
hypothermia
A body temperature that has fallen below the normal range.
hyperthermia
A body temperature that is higher than normal because the body takes in or makes more heat than it can lose.