Physiology, Thermal Regulation

Excerpt

Normal Body Core Temperatures

1. The normal core body temperature range can vary from individual to individual, and can also be influenced by age, activity, and time of day: 36.1 C (97 F) to 37.2 C (99 F).

2. During strenuous exercise, the temperature can rise temporarily to as high as 40 C (104 F).

3. When the body becomes exposed to extreme cold, the temperature can fall below 35.6 C (98 F).

4. An unclothed person can be exposed to temperatures as low as 12.8 C (55 F) or as high as 54.4 C (130 F) in dry air and still maintain almost constant core temperature.

Skin Temperature

In contrast to the core temperature, the skin temperature (shell), falls and rises with the temperature of the surroundings.