Nonthermoregulatory control of human skin blood flow

Abstract

Although it is well accepted that skin blood flow (SkBF) in humans is controlled by thermoregulatory reflexes, the conclusion that the cutaneous circulation is also controlled by reflexes of nonthermoregulatory origin is not universally held. This review considers the extent to which the cutaneous circulation participates in baroreceptor-mediated reflexes and in the reflexes associated with exercise. Exercise is explored in some detail, because it elicits both thermoregulatory and nonthermoregulatory reflexes. The overall conclusion reached is that thermoregulatory control of SkBF is subject to modification by or competition from several other sources. The fundamental pattern for control of SkBF is described by the threshold and slope of the SkBF-internal temperature relationship. Reflex effects of skin temperature act to shift the threshold of this relationship such that lower levels of skin temperature are associated with higher threshold internal temperatures at which cutaneous vasodilation begins. Similarly, baroreceptor reflexes, reflexes associated with exercise, and effects of some cardiovascular disease also operate against this background. Although modification of the SkBF-internal temperature slope is occasionally seen, the most consistent effect of these nonthermoregulatory factors is to elevate the threshold internal temperature for cutaneous vasodilation. The consequence of this modification of thermoregulatory control of SkBF is that temperature regulation will often suffer when increases in SkBF are delayed or limited. Blood flow to other regions, possibly including active skeletal muscle, may also be compromised when thermoregulatory demands for SkBF are high.