THE RÔLE OF THE EXTREMITIES IN THE DISSIPATION OF HEAT

Abstract

On young adult human subjects measurements of the temperature of the skin were used to determine the shift of blood to the surface of the body in response to (1) increasing environmental temp. and humidity and (2) increasing heat production under constant environ-mental conditions. Under both circumstances a much greater shift of blood occurred to the surface of the extremities than to that of the head and trunk. The connection between this shift of blood and the heat dissipating mechanism was strengthened by the finding of a simple linear relationship between the temp. of the great toes and the basal metabolic rate under constant environmental conditions.