Figure 1.
Simplified model of organ temperature control by oxidative metabolism, the circulation and non-circulatory heat dissipation. The heat production in the organ is proportional to the arteriovenous difference in oxygen content. The amount of heat removed by the circulation is proportional to the blood flow and the temperature difference between the blood leaving the tissue (equal to the organ temperature, Torg) and the blood entering the tissue (core body temperature, Tc). The amount of heat dissipating to the environment is proportional to the difference between organ temperature and ambient temperature.