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Shivering in the presence of hypothermia indicates that the:

A) musculoskeletal system is damaged.
B) nerve endings are damaged, causing loss of muscle control.
C) body is trying to generate more heat through muscular activity.
D) thermoregulatory system has failed and body temperature is falling.

User Jingteng
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Shivering is an involuntary action of the body aimed at generating heat through muscle activity to counteract the low temperatures causing hypothermia,the correct option is D).

Step-by-step explanation:

Shivering in the presence of hypothermia indicates that the body is trying to generate more heat through muscular activity.

When the body is exposed to cold, the hypothalamus in the brain compares sensory input against a temperature set point, and upon reaching a threshold signal, nerves of the somatic nervous system are stimulated, causing the skeletal muscles to contract and release heat, thereby elevating body temperature.

This response is a protective reflex and an aspect of the body's thermoregulatory system working to maintain homeostasis. Shivering can be seen as an involuntary response to lowered body temperature and is part of the neural control of thermoregulation. However, it is a short-term defensive mechanism and can be less efficient, as the body consumes ATP while generating heat.

User Wen W
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