Individual Variability of Tissue Temperature Profile in the Human Forearm During Water Immersion

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a range of water temperatures (Tw from 15 to 36 C) on the shape of the tissue temperature profile of the resting human forearm at thermal stability. Tissue temperature (Tt) was continuously monitored by a calibrated multicouple probe during 3 hours immersion of the forearm. The probe was implanted approximately 9 cm distal from the olecranon process along the ulnar ridge. Tt was measured every 5 mm, from the longitudinal axis of the forearm (determined from computed tomography scanning) to the skin surface. For all temperature conditions, the temperature profile inside the limb was linear as a function of the radial distance from the forearm axis (p 0.01) when the temperature data were averaged for the different groups at each water temperature tested. However, interindividual variability regarding the shape of the temperature profile was observed. A linear profile was observed in 50% of the experiments, a profile with convex curvature in 30%, and a profile with concave curvature in the remaining 20%. No significant relationship was observed between the occurrence rate of the different shapes of temperature profile and the water temperature.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA242393

Entities

People

  • Michel B. Ducharme

Organizations

  • DRDC Toronto

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arm Bones
  • Arteries
  • Blood Flow
  • Dermatologic Agents
  • Electronics Laboratories
  • Health Services
  • Heat Flux
  • Heat Loss
  • Heat Transfer
  • Measurement
  • Regression Analysis
  • Security
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Subcutaneous Tissue
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • X-Ray Computed Tomography

Readers

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  • Spectroscopy.
  • Toxicology/Environmental Toxicology