6740 Center Hill Road
Olive Branch, MS 38654
901-854-6773 (85-HORSE)
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Thermography
Thermography is the pictorial representation of the surface temperature
of an object. It is a non-invasive technique that measures emitted heat.
A medical thermogram represents the surface temperatures of skin making
thermography useful for the detection of inflammation. This ability to
non-invasively assess inflammatory change, makes thermography an ideal
imaging tool to aid in the diagnosis of certain lameness conditions in
the horse.
Heat is perpetually generated by the body, and it is dissipated through
the skin by radiation, convection, conduction, or evaporation. Because
of this, skin temperature is generally 5° C (9° F) cooler than
body core temperature (37°C). Skin derives its heat from the local
circulation and tissue metabolism. Tissue metabolism is generally constant,
therefore variation in skin temperature is usually due to changes in local
tissue perfusion. Normally, veins are warmer than arteries because they
are draining metabolically active areas. Superficial veins will heat the
skin more than superficial arteries, and venous drainage from tissues
or organs with a high metabolic rate will be warmer than venous drainage
from normal tissue.
Below is an example of a thermography picture.
