Theintegumentorskinisthelargestorganofthebody,makingup16%ofbody

weight.Theskinprotectsusfrommicrobesandtheelements,helpsregulatebodytemperature,and
permitsthesensationsoftouch,heat,andcold.Ithasseveralfunctions,themostimportantbeingtoforma
physicalbarriertotheenvironment,allowingandlimitingtheinwardandoutwardpassageofwater,
electrolytesandvarioussubstanceswhileprovidingprotectionagainstmicroorganisms,ultraviolet
radiation,toxicagentsandmechanicalinsults.Theskinhasthreelayerswhicharetheepidermis,the
dermisandsubcutis.Theskinscoloriscreatedbyspecialcellscalledmelanocytes,whichproducethe
pigmentmelanin.Melanocytesarelocatedintheepidermis.

Thereceptorsinthecutaneoussensoryreceptionareverydiverse.Theyincludefreenerveendingsin
theskin.Nerveendingsactasamplifiers,filters,andsensoryterminals.Basedonfunction,thisvarietyof
receptorscanbedividedintothreegroups:mechanoreceptors,nociceptors,andthermoreceptors.Onthe
basisoftheirmorphology,thereceptorsnearthebodysurfacecanalsobedividedintofreeand
encapsulatedtypes.Mostothercutaneousreceptorsshowsomedegreeofencapsulation,whichhelps
determinethenatureofthestimulitowhichtheyrespond.

Atotalof574cutaneousafferentunitsinthesuralandplantarnervessupplyingtheskinoftheratfootwas
examined:399Abetaunits,55Adeltaunits,and120Cunits.Theirreceptivefield(RF)propertieswere
similartothosedescribedinothermammals.However,thereceptortypecompositionofunitswasdifferent
betweenthetwonerves.
J.W.Leem,W.D.Willis,J.M.Chung
JournalofNeurophysiologyPublished1May1993Vol.69no.5,16841699

Thethermoregulatorycontrolofhumanskinbloodflowisvitaltothemaintenanceofnormalbody
temperaturesduringchallengestothermalhomeostasis.Inhumans,thistransepidermalwatervapourloss
wasrecognisedbytheancientGreeks,butnotunderstood.In1614,theItalianphysiologistSantorio
Sanctorius(15611636)quantifiedchangesinbodymassduetothisperspiration,whichoccursbyosmotic
diffusionthroughtheepidermis.However,separateandindependentwaterlossescanoccurthroughthe
activationofsweatglandswhenexposedtothermal.psychogenicandexercisestresses.Neuralcontrol
ofskinbloodflowincludesthenoradrenergicvasoconstrictorsystemandasympatheticactivevasodilator
system,thelatterofwhichisresponsiblefor80%to90%ofthesubstantialcutaneousvasodilationthat
occurswithwholebodyheatstress.Whenthehumanbodyexercises,itstartstocontrolheatinsideand
needstoreleaseit.Withbodyheating,Cutaneoussympatheticvasoconstrictorandvasodilatorsystems
alsoparticipateinbaroreflexcontrolofbloodpressure.Thisisparticularlyimportantduringheatstress
whensuchalargepercentageofcardiacoutputisdirectedtotheskin.

PVexpansiondoesnotimprovethermoregulation,butEVexpansionimprovesthermoregulationduring
exerciseintheheat.DehydrationdecreasesPV(andincreasesplasmatonicity)whichelevatesheatstrain
andreducesexerciseperformance.
U.S.ArmyResearchInstituteofEnvironmentalMedicine,Natick,MA017605007,USA.
MedicineandScienceinSportsandExercise[2000,32(2):332348]