Final answer:
A body exposed to extreme temperatures without proper treatment will undergo physiological stress, shivering in cold conditions and sweating in hot conditions. Long-term exposure can lead to serious health issues or death. Lack of food and water also severely impacts health, leading to weakened bodily functions and organ failure.
Step-by-step explanation:
When homeostasis fails due to extreme temperatures, and the body is not able to maintain its core temperature, several physiological responses occur. Short-term exposure to extreme cold will trigger mechanisms like shivering and increased breakdown of stored energy to produce heat. However, when energy reserves are depleted, core temperature may drop significantly, leading to reduced oxygen availability to the brain, causing confusion, lethargy, and possibly even death. Similarly, exposure to extreme heat prompts the body to sweat. Sweat evaporates from the skin, cooling the body but this method becomes less effective in humid conditions, causing the risk of dangerously high internal body temperatures. If fluid builds up excessively in one of the body cavities, it can disrupt the normal function of organs, leading to complications or even death. Long-term dehydration can also be fatal as water is crucial for many bodily functions, including sweat production.
If a person does not eat for several days or weeks, the body initially uses up its glucose storage, after which it starts to break down fat for energy. Continuous lack of nutrients eventually leads to muscle atrophy, a weakened immune system, serious organ failure, and finally death.