How Do You Spell POIKILOTHERMIA?

Pronunciation: [pˌɔ͡ɪkɪlˈʌðəmˌi͡ə] (IPA)

Poikilothermia is a medical term used to describe a condition where an organism's body temperature fluctuates according to its environment. The word is spelled phonetically as 'pɔɪkɪlɒθɜː'miə', with stresses on the second syllable and the fourth syllable. The "poi-" in "poikilothermia" is pronounced as "poi" as in "poison", followed by "kil-" pronounced as "kil" in "kilo". The "thermia" takes its root from the Greek word "thermē", meaning heat, and is pronounced as "ther-mi-a". This word is used mainly in medical contexts.

POIKILOTHERMIA Meaning and Definition

1. Poikilothermia refers to the condition of having variable or fluctuating body temperature, depending on the environmental temperature. It is commonly observed in animals, especially reptiles and amphibians, as well as some lower forms of life like fish and insects. Unlike homeothermic organisms, which have a stable internal body temperature regardless of the surroundings, poikilothermic animals rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature.

   In poikilothermic animals, the metabolic rate and physiological processes are directly affected by changes in the ambient temperature. As a result, their body temperature can vary widely, matching the temperature of their environment. Poikilothermia allows these animals to conserve energy, as they do not need to constantly generate heat to maintain a stable body temperature.

   However, poikilothermia also means that these animals are highly susceptible to environmental temperature changes. Extreme cold can slow down their metabolic activity, leading to reduced energy levels and even temporary dormancy, while excessive heat can cause hyperthermia and potentially lead to dehydration or heat stroke.

   In medical terms, poikilothermia can also refer to the failure of the body's internal temperature regulation system in humans, resulting in the inability to maintain a constant body temperature. This condition is often observed in certain diseases, such as hypothyroidism or multiple sclerosis, where the body's thermoregulatory mechanisms are impaired.

Common Misspellings for POIKILOTHERMIA

• ooikilothermia
• loikilothermia
• -oikilothermia
• 0oikilothermia
• piikilothermia
• pkikilothermia
• plikilothermia
• ppikilothermia
• p0ikilothermia
• p9ikilothermia
• poukilothermia
• pojkilothermia
• pokkilothermia
• pookilothermia
• po9kilothermia
• po8kilothermia
• poijilothermia
• poimilothermia
• poililothermia
• poioilothermia

Etymology of POIKILOTHERMIA

The word poikilothermia is derived from Ancient Greek. It is a combination of the Greek words poikilos meaning varied or irregular, and thermos meaning temperature. Therefore, poikilothermia literally translates to varied temperature.