thermal

thermal /ther·mal/ (ther´m'l) pertaining to or characterized by heat.

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ther·mal (thûrml)

adj.

1. Of, relating to, using, producing, or caused by heat.

2. Intended or designed in such a way as to help retain body heat.

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thermal

[thur′məl]

Etymology: Gk, thermē, heat

pertaining to the production, application, or maintenance of heat. Also thermic.

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thermal [ther´mal]

pertaining to heat.

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thermal

pertaining to heat.

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thermal death point

the state of heat content, as measured by temperature, at which the life of an organism ceases. Important in a consideration of sterilization procedures for certain organisms, especially those that produce spores.

thermal energy

the energy of heat.

thermal injury

see burn.

thermal processing

the preservation of food by the application of heat either in boiling water, by live steam, in an autoclave or by flame.

thermal sensation

the sense of temperature.

thermal stress

see hyperthermia (1), heat stroke, fever.

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Patient discussion about thermal.

Q. What are the visual distinctions between thermal burns and frostbite? Is it possible to definitively distinguish the two from each other in all cases, or do they present identically in many cases? In other words, are frostbite injuries-for all intents and purposes, actual burns and if they are not, in what ways do they differ?

A. Early frostbite and minor burns may resemble one another visually (by whitened, blanched looking skin, and blister formation). However, last stage frostbite and thermal (heat) burns are very different.
In late stage frostbite, the ice crystals in the cells melt and the ruptured cells pour out their contents, then blisters may form. Since the affected area has basically lost circulation, gangrene sets in rather quickly and the tissue turns black and dry.
Deep (full thickness) heat related burns are surrounded by areas of erythema (reddened skin) and skin with less degrees of burning. Also, eschar is obviously charred skin tissue forming a scab like structure, and looks nothing like gangrene. The wound bed in a burn leaks plasma constantly. Blistering is pretty immediate with heat related burns of a sufficient degree.