CHANGES IN THE SKIN TEMPERATURES OF THE EXTREMITIES PRODUCED BY CHANGES IN POSTURE

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Abstract
Observations of the effects of posture on the skin temps. of the toes and fingers were made under environmental conditions which did not produce either great vasoconstriction or great vaso-dilatation of the extremities but which permitted the fingers and toes to act as the fine adjusters in the control of the dissipation of heat from the body. Under environmental temperatures ranging from 23 to 30[degree]C. with the subjects in the basal metabolic state and free from sweating of the extremities, the skin temperatures of the toes and fingers decreased when the extremities were elevated and increased when the extremities were pendant. When the posture of the body was changed from the horizontal, either voluntarily or when placed in an angular position by means of a tilt-table, the skin temps. of the toes increased when the body was tilted with the feet downward and vice versa. These results probably are due to changes in the peripheral circulation as a result of changes in hydrostatic pressure.

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