Thermoregulation - Body Hair
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 5.2.18
Body Hairs
Each hair on the body is controlled by a hair erector muscle.
Too hot
- When we are too hot, the hair erector muscle relaxes, causing the hair to lie flat.
Too cold
- When we are too cold, the hair erector muscle contracts, causing the hair to stand on end (which pull on the skin giving you goosebumps).
- When all the hairs are standing on end, they trap an insulating layer of air around the body.
Test yourself on Thermoregulation - Body Hair
Why does trapping a layer of air around the body help someone who is cold?
Why does a hairy man warm up faster than a less hairy man when both feel cold?
Why does contracting the hair erector muscle in cold conditions cause goosebumps?