Special Circulations: Cutaneous and Splanchnic

Question 1

What is the primary function of the cutaneous circulation?

Answer 1

to maintain a constant body temperature by providing convective transport of heat to the body surface for exchange with the environment

Question 2

How does blood flow contribute to skin color?

Answer 2

by the volume and degree of oxygenation of blood in the cutaneous vessels

Question 3

What is the purpose of arterio-venous (AV) anastomoses?

Answer 3

they shunt blood from the arterioles to venules and venous plexuses to bypass the capillary beds

Question 4

What controls blood flow through arterio-venous anastomoses?

Answer 4

they are exclusively under sympathetic neural control, as opposed to local metabolic control; no basal (non-neural) tone, meaning that neural control is extremely important for these shunts

Question 5

What is the purpose of glomus bodies? In which type of skin are they found?

Answer 5

glomus bodies are AV anastomoses that facilitate heat loss and are found in apical skin only