How does skin regulate body temperature?
Quick Answer
Sweat glands and fatty layers in the skin help to regulate body temperature in mammals. When the outside temperature is high, sweat glands release bodily fluids combined with salt to keep the body temperature from getting too high. When the outside temperature is low, fatty layers on the skin act as insulation, trapping heat and keeping it from leaving the body.
Continue Reading
Full Answer
Temperature receptors are located within the skin. These receptors send signals to the body, stimulating shaking in cold weather and sweating in hot weather. When the temperature outside is high, sweat glands within the skin react. The human body has roughly 2.6 million sweat glands. When the body senses an increase in the core temperature, it responds by increasing blood flow to the skin, which stimulates the sweat glands. They begin to release a fluid mixed with salt known as perspiration. When this perspiration releases from the pores, it settles on the outside of the skin. The effect of this perspiration and the outside wind help to cool the body off, lowering the internal temperature of the body. Fatty layers on the skin help the body to retain all the heat that it can during extremely low temperatures. Blood flow is directed further away from the skin to conserve warmth. During exercise, the body's ability to regulate heat, or thermoregulate, is challenged.
Learn more about Human AnatomyRelated Questions
-
Q:
What are the four appendages of the skin?
A: The four appendages of the skin include sebaceous or oil glands, sweat or sudoriferous glands, hair, and nails. The appendages reside in the dermis and are... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is the name of the gland that excretes water and salt through the skin?
A: The glands that excrete water and salt through the skin are named the sudoriferous glands. These are also known as sweat glands and are divided into eccrin... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What layer of skin are sebaceous glands found in?
A: Sebaceous glands are found in the dermis layer of the skin. They are the glands that secrete different cells and the makeup of the gland is dependent on wh... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are the names of each major human body part?
A: The body parts are grouped into several systems, including the nervous system of the brain, spinal cord and nerves that control the body, its muscles and g... Full Answer >Filed Under:
You May Also Like
-
Q:
What is the function of the epididymis?
-
Q:
What are some good treatments for dry, cracked skin?
-
Q:
What are some sources for simple illustrations of the human abdomen?
-
Q:
What happens when you swallow a hair?
-
Q:
What human body parts start with the letter R?
-
Q:
What are the roles of the spleen and marrow?
