Final answer:
Hypothermia in newborns occurs when their core body temperature is abnormally low, below 36.5 degrees Celsius, which can be dangerous. Controlled hypothermia is a medical procedure used to reduce metabolic rates during certain surgical procedures. In contrast, neonatal care units use incubators to maintain a stable temperature environment for vulnerable newborns.
Step-by-step explanation:
An abnormal thermal state in which the newborn's body temperature is below 36.5 ℃ is referred to as hypothermia. This condition is a dangerous decrease in core body temperature, which can fall below 34.4 degrees C (94 degrees F). It is crucial to maintain a normal body temperature range, which is usually between 36.5-37.5 ℃ (97.7-99.5 ℉), as variations can indicate a medical condition. In newborns, maintaining this thermal balance is especially important due to their unique method of generating heat through nonshivering thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue.
Occasionally, controlled hypothermia is medically induced to reduce metabolic rate for surgical procedures or in the treatment of certain medical conditions. For example, during open-heart surgery, it helps to decrease the metabolic needs of organs, thus reducing the risk of damage. However, if the body temperature is not carefully controlled, such as in the case of a newborn experiencing hypothermia, serious health risks can occur.
In neonatal intensive-care units, premature or sick newborns are placed in incubators to maintain a thermoneutral external temperature, ensuring the body does not have to expend extra energy for thermoregulation. Ensuring the proper function of these incubators is an example of the zeroth law of thermodynamics in practice, creating an environment of thermal equilibrium that is safe for the baby.