A two-dimensional transient mathematical model of human thermoregulation.

Current models of human thermoregulation are limited in that they fail to account for temperature distribution in any spatial direction other than radially outward from the body centerline. They are therefore incapable of accounting for nonuniform environmental conditions or nonuniform heat generation from muscles or organs within the body. However, for many situations, these nonuniform conditions are commonplace and lead to disparate skin temperatures and heat loss rates on different sides of the same body compartement. A new mathematical model of human thermoregulation that has been developed and is presented here has the capability of predicting transient temperature variations in two spatial dimensions, both radially and angularly, as measured from the body centerline. In so doing, the model accounts for nonuniform environments and internal heat generation rates. Typical results from the model are demonstrated, and comparisons with available experimental data are also presented.