When a patient has a fever, which of the following thermoregulatory mechanisms is activated?
a. The body's thermostat is adjusted to a lower temperature.
b. Temperature is raised above the set point.
c. Bacteria directly stimulate peripheral thermogenesis.
d. The body's thermostat is reset to a higher level.
ANS: D
Fever (febrile response) is a temporary "resetting of the hypothalamic thermostat" to a higher lev-el in response to endogenous or exogenous pyrogens. Fever is the result of the body's attempt to raise temperature, not adjust it to a lower level. When fever occurs, the temperature is raised, but the rise is due to a reset of the thermostat. Bacteria do not stimulate peripheral thermogenesis, but their endotoxins do.
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