What term describes the process by which the body regulates temperature?

The term that describes the process by which the body regulates temperature is thermoregulation. This process involves physiological and behavioral mechanisms that help maintain the body's internal temperature within a narrow range, despite external temperature fluctuations.

Thermoregulation works through various means, such as sweating to cool down and shivering to generate heat when the body is cold. The hypothalamus, a part of the brain, plays a critical role in this process by detecting changes in body temperature and triggering appropriate responses to keep the temperature stable.

In contrast, homeostasis refers more broadly to the body's overall ability to maintain stability in various physiological systems, not just temperature. Metabolism describes the chemical processes that occur within the body to maintain life, including energy production and utilization. Adaptation refers to changes an organism undergoes over time to better suit its environment. Each of these concepts is related, but thermoregulation is specifically focused on temperature control.