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PatrickKieliszek t1_iujc2s4 wrote

Reply to comment by Kraz_I in What is the actual mechanism by which the body generates a fever? by Pheophyting

Although evaporation dominates as a method of heat loss, there are two biological mechanisms that I am aware of that can additionally decrease dry conduction.

Capillary constriction in the skin reduces blood flow and makes the skin a more efficient insulator.

Piloerection of hair follicles helps trap air against the skin and improve insulation (works better on hirsute people and is mostly redundant in people that wear clothing).

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an711098 t1_iujoqqg wrote

Do you happen to know how capillary constriction transmits across other organs? Would it be fair to assume that if the capillaries in our skin constrict, capillaries in other parts of the body are constructing too? E.g. I recently read a summary (layperson here) of a paper suggesting Covid 19 triggers capillary constriction in the brain and am wondering if that triggers manifestations in other organs? Or if the circulatory system is big enough that capillaries in one part of the body don’t have to experience the same fluctuations as another (provided no mechanical separation like a tourniquet or tumour or whatever)?

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JCoco17 t1_iuk7b8s wrote

Different systems respond to different messages. Brain and muscles increase blood flow, while digestion decreases blood flow under stress.

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