HEMATOTHERMAL Meaning and
Definition
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Hematothermal refers to an organism that maintains a consistent internal body temperature through metabolic processes, independent of the external environmental temperature. The term is typically used in reference to warm-blooded animals, including mammals and birds. These organisms possess a high degree of thermoregulation, allowing them to maintain a consistent internal temperature regardless of the temperature fluctuations in the surrounding environment.
The concept of hematothermal is a combination of two words: hema, meaning "blood", and thermal, referring to temperature. In hematothermal animals, the blood plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature. Specialized structures such as sweat glands, hair, feathers, and fat layers aid in insulation, retention or dissipation of heat as needed.
Hematothermal organisms have several advantages over their ectothermic counterparts, including increased agility, better endurance, and the ability to inhabit a wider range of environments. With the ability to regulate temperature, these organisms can maintain optimal physiological function for their bodily processes and overall body performance. Furthermore, hematothermal animals often exhibit higher metabolic rates compared to ectothermic organisms, as they require a constant supply of energy to maintain their body temperature.
In summary, hematothermal refers to organisms capable of maintaining constant internal body temperature through metabolic processes. It is a characteristic primarily observed in warm-blooded animals, enabling them to thrive in variable environmental conditions.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for HEMATOTHERMAL
- gematothermal
- bematothermal
- nematothermal
- jematothermal
- uematothermal
- yematothermal
- hwmatothermal
- hsmatothermal
- hdmatothermal
- hrmatothermal
- h4matothermal
- h3matothermal
- henatothermal
- hekatothermal
- hejatothermal
- hemztothermal
- hemstothermal
- hemwtothermal
- hemqtothermal
Etymology of HEMATOTHERMAL
The word "hematothermal" has its etymology rooted in ancient Greek. It is derived from the Greek words "haima" meaning "blood" and "thermos" meaning "hot". "Hematothermal" was coined in the mid-19th century to describe organisms, particularly animals, that maintain a relatively constant internal body temperature through internal physiological mechanisms. This term is often contrasted with "poikilothermic", which refers to organisms whose body temperature fluctuates with the environment.
Similar spelling words for HEMATOTHERMAL
