Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Commonly used in medicine, the word decubitus is used to mean lying down. It is derived from the Latin verb âdecumbereâ meaning to lie down.
The brain regulates metabolism and manages other functions to keep your body temperature within a normal range. But the brain can only do so much, and a host of outside factors can affect your body temperature. Controlling and managing these outside factors is key to maintaining a normal body temperature.
The skin is vital to good health because of its ability to regulate  body temperature. The hypothalamus signals the sweat glands to  begin producing perspiration when the bo â¦ dy temperature rises above  normal (approximately 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). As the perspiration  evaporates from the surface of the body, cooling results. In  addition, during increased body temperature, the blood vessels near  the surface of the skin dilate to release heat to the exterior of  the body; conversely, if the body is too cool, these vessels  constrict to decrease heat loss.