Final answer:
Hyperthermia is an elevated body temperature that can affect physiological functions, assessed using thermography to identify temperature abnormalities. It impacts heart function by increasing heart rate and contractions, leading to potential malfunction of enzymes and the central nervous system. Similarly, hypothermia entails lowered body temperature with adverse effects on heart rate and stroke volume.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term hyperthermia refers to an elevated body temperature, which can impact physiological functions such as heart rate (HR) and the strength of heart contractions. Hyperthermia can be assessed using various methods, including infrared thermography, which provides a visual representation of body temperature through color-coded thermal images. These images help in identifying areas of increased heat, which can indicate conditions like malignant tumors, or conversely, a depressed temperature, which may signify a decline in blood flow. During incidents of hyperthermia, the body can experience increased heart rate and stronger heart contractions. If body temperature increases significantly, it can lead to enzyme malfunction and eventually result in the cessation of normal body functions, especially within the central nervous system. Conversely, hypothermia involves a suppressed body temperature, leading to slowed heart rate and contractions, potentially resulting in cardiac arrest. This concept is utilized in certain medical procedures like open heart surgery, where induced hypothermia allows the heart to stop while maintaining the patient on an artificial heart-lung machine until normal heart rhythm can be restored.
Stroke volume may also be affected by abnormal body temperatures, where it refers to the amount of blood the heart pumps out with each beat. In the field of medicine, understanding how hyperthermia and hypothermia affect stroke volume is crucial for patient care, especially in critical situations such as surgery or heat-related illnesses.