Regional Differences in the Basal and Maximal Rates of Blood Flow in the Skin

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Abstract
Consecutive recordings of cutaneous volume pulses were made in various skin regions of 2 subjects with the photoelectric plethysmograph. Rates of blood flow in these regions were calculated by applying to these records the flow equivalent of the skin pulse as estimated previously on the finger. Total cutaneous flow was estimated from the sum of the regional flows. For a number of reasons, which are discussed, total cutaneous flows thus estimated averaged higher than those calculated from thermal data, although the ranges overlapped. Skin regions may be divided into 2 groups regions of high flow (palmar and plantar surfaces, head, face), and regions of low flow (trunk, limbs). Flow rates in the latter group fell within a very narrow range. Similar regional differences in maximal rates of cutaneous blood flow (induced by heat or by iontophoresis of histamine or mecholyl) were found and appear to be set by size and number of vessels. It is concluded that the photoelectric plethysmographic method makes possible estimation of rates of cutaneous blood flow of sufficient accuracy to have value in the study of vascular reactions in the skin.