In vitro measurements of temperature-dependent specific heat of liver tissue.
We measured the specific heat of liver tissue in vitro by uniformly heating liver samples between two electrodes. We insulated the samples by expanded polystyrene, and corrected for heat loss and water loss. The specific heat of the liver is temperature-dependent, and increases by 17% at 83.5 degrees C (p < 0.05), compared to temperatures below 65 degrees C. The average specific heat was 3411 J kg(-1)K(-1) at 25 degrees C, and 4187 J kg(-1)K(-1) at 83.5 degrees C. Water loss from the samples was significant above 70 degrees C, with approximately 20% of reduction in sample mass at 90 degrees C.
Haemmerich
Dieter
D
Children's Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Pediatrics, 165 Ashley Ave, PO Box 250915, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. haemmer@musc.edu
dos Santos
Icaro
I
Schutt
David J
DJ
Webster
John G
JG
Mahvi
David M
DM
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D002151:Calorimetry / Q000379:methods*; D002417:Cattle; D006358:Hot Temperature; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D013817:Thermography