28. Chart showing diurnal variation in body temperature, ranging from about 37.5 °C from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and falling to about 36.3 °C from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.
When either an internal failure of some normal physiological process (abnormal growth of cells, production of antibodies to tissues, premature cell death, failure of cell processes, inherited disorders) or an external failure (toxic chemicals, physical trauma, foreign invaders) occurs, the organism’s lack of successful compensation can lead to disease or death.