Final answer:
The energy consumed to support and maintain body functions such as temperature regulation at rest is called the basal metabolic rate (BMR). It accounts for about 75% of total daily energy expenditure and is influenced by several factors including age, gender, and muscle mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy consumed for fuel to support and maintain normal body functions like temperature regulation is best described as the basal metabolic rate (BMR).
The BMR is the total energy conversion rate of a person at rest, sustaining the basic functions vital for life. About 75% of the calories consumed daily are used for these basic bodily functions, including the liver and spleen's activities, brain function, as well as maintaining the electrical potentials in living cells which are crucial for nerve impulses. The BMR is influenced by factors such as age, gender, total body weight, and muscle mass.
The metabolic rate also includes the energy required for other activities besides these basic functions, but the BMR specifically refers to the rate of energy expenditure at rest.