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Macrophotograph of the skin on the
arm of a young male human showing goosebumps on the outer cornified (keratinised) epidermis. The skin surface shows
erectile hairs, which with sweat glands & blood capillaries form
part of the temperature-regulatory mechanism of the body. Hairs
are produced by hair follicles, which are cylindrical downgrowths of the surface epithelium ensheathed by connective
tissue. A bundle of smooth muscle, the arrector pili muscle, is
attached to the connective tissue sheath of each follicle. When
contracted, the hair stands on end & its point of insertion is
pulled down, causing the effect known as "goosebumps". |
