Effect of Vascularity on Skin Temperature Recovery

What you will learn today . . .

• Homeostasis refers to the body’s ability to maintain internal conditions within a certain range • Many of the body’s chemical reactions have to take place at this temperature, regardless of the temperature outside the body • The human skin is designed to detect changes in temperature and respond to them by its complicated structure • The dermis of the skin either allows or prevents blood flow to the surface of the skin • Skin with more blood vessels at its surface (vascularity) will return to the set point more quickly after a temperature change

Homeostasis in Body Temperature • What is normal body temperature?

• Many of the body’s chemical reactions have to take place at this temperature, regardless of the temperature outside the body • The human skin is designed to detect changes in temperature and respond to them by its complicated structure

Side View of the Skin

Figure 1

Homeostasis in Body Temperature • The dermis of the skin either allows or prevents blood flow to the surface of the skin – Arteries constrict if it is cool to slow down blood flow – Arteries dilate if it is hot to increase blood flow; this produces a red, flushed appearance

Skin Temperature

• What is normal skin temperature?

• This is the

set point

of the skin • Skin with more blood vessels at its surface (vascularity) will return to the set point more quickly after a temperature change

What you will do?

• You will compare the rate of recovery from cold in two different skin regions and draw conclusions about the vascularity of these areas.

Figure 3 Figure 2

Make Your Hypothesis

• Rank the following body parts by their vascularity: Thigh Upper Arm Palm of the Hand Kneecap Face Calf Shin

Results