Why do you get "goose bumps"?

Every person sometimes has so-called "goose bumps". What is the reason for this phenomenon? In the people it is called a "goose's skin": when covered with shivers, the human skin really acquires a resemblance to it. In fact, this term is quite medical and its correspondence is in Latin - in this language it sounds like "cutis anserina".

"Goosebumps" occurs under certain circumstances. Often, "goosebumps" on the skin "run through" due to strong emotions. In particular, it can be awe, ecstasy, satisfaction, excitement, including sexual. Also, the manifestation of "cutis anserina" on the skin is often provoked by fear or freezing.

Its name was obtained because of the similarity covered with pimples ("goosebumps") of human skin with goose. After the geese pluck feathers, instead of them there are seals, remotely resembling human hair follicles. The appearance of the "goosebumps" on the skin reveals a rudimentary pyloric reflex that responds to the animals for raising their wool. The mechanism of this process can be described as follows: it arises from the stimulation of sensory peripheral nerves emanating from the spinal cord. As a consequence, excitation of peripheral nerve endings occurs, which are responsible for contraction of the musculature of the hair follicles. When their muscles contract, there is a so-called piloerection - the hairs rise and "goosebumps" run over the skin.

Pilomotor reflex is peculiar not only to people, but also to the majority of mammals. Raised hairs (wool) prevent cooling of the body, keeping the air layer warmed by the body at the skin surface. It is noteworthy that piloection has no practical meaning for a person, in view of the fact that only some parts of his body have a hair covering. In this case, the value of this reflex was lost in the process of evolution. But the animals with their wavy hair can, if necessary, look more ferocious and frightening. For example, when the manifestation of the pilomotor reflex is provoked by danger, a feeling of fear.

Earlier it was mentioned that a person can "goosebumps" with strong emotional experiences. Sometimes people describe in this way their impressions of attending worship, listening to music, watching movies or sports. The appearance of a piloerection can cause excitement - strong emotions accompanying a game of poker, roulette, etc.

"Murashki" on the skin often "run" because of its squeezing - a prolonged effect on the nerve trunks. A person says in such cases that he "sat out" his leg or "lain" his arm. A metabolic disorder, a lack of vitamins in the body can also be the cause of the manifestation of the pilomotor reflex. In some cases, a frequent experience of such feelings, in particular, in the area of the lower extremities, can signal that the person has serious vascular pathologies.

These are diseases such as atherosclerosis, varicose veins and other circulatory disorders. In this case, consultation of the phlebologist is necessary. However, in most cases, "goosebumps," in particular, often manifested - it's still a neurological syndrome, and "run through" as a result of mental reactions of the body. Often, people with hypothetical feelings are faced with this phenomenon, which has an increased emotionality. Do not exclude the possibility of purely dermatological reasons for the appearance of "goose bumps" - especially in cases where the symptom is not episodic, but permanent. Their cause can be excessive dryness of the skin.

In most cases, the syndrome described does not indicate the presence of any disease. The cause for concern should be its frequent occurrence, especially in combination with pain and numbness of limbs.