Model of homeostatic regulation of body temperature

Model : homeostasis1
Simile version : 3.1+
Date added : 2003-06-20
Keywords : Homeostasis ; Basic System Dynamics ;

Description

This models the homeostatic regulation of body temperature in a warm-blooded animal. It may be taken as a representative example of the modelling of homeostasis in general using System Dynamics.

Note that the 'substance' that is stored in a compartment is heat. We can do that, even though heat is not a substance as such. We then have a flow in through metabolic processes, and a loss through process such as convection and radiation. What we should not do is to use a compartment to represent temperature: instead , this is worked out knowing the heat content and specific heat capacity.

The model works by regulating the metabolic rate in relation to the difference between current body temperature and a set point.

Files

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homeostasis1.sml

Diagram

Equations

  body heat = 1000
         metabolism = (if body_temperature	  
      
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