Science
How does the body regulate temperature?
The body keeps a steady temperature using the brain as a thermostat. When you're too hot, you sweat and blood vessels widen to release heat; when too cold, you shiver and vessels narrow to keep heat in — all to protect your vital processes.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how body temperature works.
Step by step
- 1The brain's hypothalamus acts as a thermostat.
- 2Too hot: you sweat and blood vessels widen to shed heat.
- 3Too cold: you shiver and vessels narrow to retain heat.
- 4This keeps core temperature near 37°C (98.6°F).
Frequently asked questions
- How does the body regulate temperature?
- The brain senses temperature and triggers sweating, shivering, and blood vessel changes to stay near 37°C.
- Why do we shiver when cold?
- Rapid muscle contractions generate heat to warm the body back toward its set point.
- Why do we sweat when hot?
- Sweat evaporates off the skin, carrying away heat and cooling the body.