shivering

views updated May 21 2018

shivering A common experience; the explanation is a stimulus to rapid muscular contractions, set off from the temperature-regulating centre in the hypothalamus, in response to cooling of the skin and the blood. The contractions generate heat, helping to maintain deep body temperature despite increased heat loss during cold exposure. Shivering occurs in fever when there is effectively a re-setting of the hypothalamic ‘thermostat’.

Stuart Judge


See fever; temperature regulation.

shivering

views updated May 18 2018

shivering See thermogenesis.