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Hypothermia

(Science: physiology) a low body temperature, as that due to exposure in cold weather or a state of low temperature of the body induced as a means of decreasing metabolism of tissues and thereby the need for oxygen, as used in various surgical procedures, especially on the heart or in an excised organ being preserved for transplantation.

Origin: gr. Therm = heat subnormal body temperature.A condition as a result of lowered temperature in the internal Environment of an organism, which reduces the metabolic Rate to a dangerous level, which in turn produces less heat from the metabolic reactions.