Answer to Question #119074 in Biochemistry for Bernard

Question

A child shivers in a cold rain but does not feel cold, what is the biochemistry behind it

Answer 1

A child does not feel cold in a cold rain because of shivering thermogenesis. This occurs during short periods of exposure of cold. During maximum shivering body heat production can rise to four-to-five times the normal heat production. The muscle stores glycogen are used and heat is produced by hydrolysis of the ATP during contraction and relaxation of muscles. The ATP required to support shivering is generated from aerobic metabolism, since shivering can be maintained, in some conditions, for prolonged period of time.