Hibernating
Hibernating
Hibernating (/haɪˈbɜːrnətɪŋ/, from Latin hibernare meaning "to pass the winter") is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in endotherms characterized by low body temperature, slow breathing and heart rate, and low metabolic rate.
Etymology
The term hibernating is derived from the Latin word hibernare which means "to pass the winter". It was first used in English in the late 17th century to describe the long-term sleep some animals enter during the winter period.
Related Terms
- Torpor: A state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually characterized by a reduced body temperature and rate of metabolism. Torpor enables animals to survive periods of reduced food availability.
- Estivation: A state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, characterized by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate, that is entered in response to high temperatures and arid conditions.
- Endotherm: An organism that is internally warmed by a heat-generating metabolic process.
- Metabolic depression: A physiological state that animals enter, in which metabolic activities decrease to low levels, allowing them to conserve energy.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hibernating
- Wikipedia's article - Hibernating
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