Table of contents

1. Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology5h 43m
2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components12h 36m
3. Energy & Cell Processes10h 6m
4. Tissues & Histology10h 3m
5. Integumentary System2h 20m
6. Bones & Skeletal Tissue2h 16m
7. The Skeletal System2h 35m
8. Joints2h 17m
9. Muscle Tissue2h 33m
10. Muscles1h 11m
11. Nervous Tissue and Nervous System1h 35m
12. The Central Nervous System1h 6m
- Introduction to the Central Nervous System
  18m
- The Cerebrum
  48m
13. The Peripheral Nervous System1h 26m
14. The Autonomic Nervous System1h 38m
15. The Special Senses2h 41m
16. The Endocrine System2h 48m
17. The Blood3h 22m
18. The Heart3h 42m
19. The Blood Vessels3h 35m
20. The Lymphatic System3h 16m
21. The Immune System14h 37m
22. The Respiratory System3h 20m
23. The Digestive System2h 5m
24. Metabolism and Nutrition4h 0m
25. The Urinary System2h 39m
26. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance, Acid Base Balance37m
27. The Reproductive System2h 5m
28. Human Development1h 21m
29. Heredity3h 32m

3. Energy & Cell Processes

Chemical Reactions

Anatomy & Physiology

3. Energy & Cell Processes

Chemical Reactions

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2:32 minutes

Problem 25

Textbook Question

Every year dozens of elderly people are found dead in their unheated apartments and listed as victims of hypothermia. What is hypothermia, and how does it kill? Why are the elderly more susceptible to hypothermia than the young?

Verified step by step guidance

Define hypothermia as a medical condition where the body's core temperature drops below the normal range (typically below 35°C or 95°F), impairing normal physiological functions.

Explain how hypothermia kills by causing the body's metabolic processes to slow down, leading to impaired heart function, reduced brain activity, and eventually organ failure if the temperature continues to drop.

Describe the physiological mechanisms the body uses to maintain temperature, such as shivering, vasoconstriction, and increased metabolism, which help generate and conserve heat.

Discuss why elderly individuals are more susceptible to hypothermia, including factors like decreased subcutaneous fat, reduced metabolic rate, impaired thermoregulation, and possible chronic illnesses or medications that affect heat production or retention.

Summarize that the combination of environmental exposure to cold and the diminished ability of the elderly to respond effectively to cold stress increases their risk of hypothermia and its potentially fatal consequences.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a medical condition where the body's core temperature drops below the normal range, impairing normal physiological functions. It occurs when heat loss exceeds heat production, leading to slowed metabolism, organ failure, and potentially death if untreated.

Physiological Effects of Hypothermia

As body temperature falls, vital processes like heart rate, breathing, and brain function slow down. Severe hypothermia can cause cardiac arrhythmias, unconsciousness, and ultimately death due to the failure of critical organs.

Increased Vulnerability of the Elderly

Elderly individuals are more susceptible to hypothermia due to reduced metabolic rate, impaired thermoregulation, thinner skin, and often limited mobility or inadequate heating. These factors decrease their ability to generate and retain body heat.

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