Erector pilli
Erector Pili
The Erector Pili (pronounced: ih-rek-tor pi-lee) are small muscles attached to hair follicles in mammals. The contraction of these muscles causes the hairs to stand up, a phenomenon known as goosebumps or piloerection.
Etymology
The term "Erector Pili" originates from Latin, where "Erector" means "one who erects" and "Pili" refers to "hair". Thus, the term literally translates to "one who erects hair".
Function
The primary function of the erector pili is to generate heat when the body is cold, causing the hairs to stand up and trap a layer of air to insulate the skin. This is often associated with the "fight or flight" response, a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival.
Related Terms
- Hair Follicle: A part of the skin, which grows a hair by packing old cells together. The erector pili is attached to the hair follicle.
- Goosebumps: The phenomenon that causes the hairs on the skin to stand upright. This is caused by the contraction of the erector pili.
- Piloerection: Another term for goosebumps. The term "piloerection" is derived from the Latin words 'pilus' meaning 'hair' and 'erectio' meaning 'rising up'.
- Thermoregulation: The ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is very different. The erector pili play a role in this process.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Erector pilli
- Wikipedia's article - Erector pilli
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