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 2
Figure 3
Make Your Hypothesis
• Rank the following body parts by their
vascularity:
Thigh
Upper Arm
Palm of the Hand
Kneecap
Face
Calf
Shin
Results