Final answer:
Thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) play a key role in increasing the body's metabolic rate and heat production, known as the calorigenic effect, which is regulated by the hypothalamus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The influence of thyroid hormone on temperature regulation in the endocrine system is significant. These hormones, including thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), play a crucial role in the body's basal metabolic rate (BMR). Thyroid hormones affect nearly every cell in the body and are known for their calorigenic effect, which increases metabolism and body heat production.
When T3 and T4 bind to intracellular receptors on the mitochondria, they increase ATP production, and, in the nucleus, they activate genes involved in energy production and glucose oxidation. An increased metabolism leads to higher body temperatures, which the hypothalamus, acting as a thermostat, regulates through mechanisms of heat exchange. When the core body temperature deviates from the set point, the hypothalamus initiates actions such as sweating or shivering to correct it.