Final answer:
The skin regulates body temperature through vasodilation and vasoconstriction by manipulating blood flow to the skin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The skin regulates body temperature through vasodilation and vasoconstriction. When the body temperature rises, the hypothalamus sends nerve signals to dilate blood vessels in the skin, allowing more blood to flow through the skin and release heat into the environment. On the other hand, when the body temperature drops, the hypothalamus causes vasoconstriction to minimize heat loss by reducing blood flow to the skin.
Temperature regulation by the skin is primarily accomplished by vasodilation and vasoconstriction. The skin, with its association to the sympathetic nervous system, can initiate these processes to either diffuse body heat into the environment or retain it to maintain the body's core temperature. When body temperature rises, vasodilation occurs, allowing increased blood flow through the expanded blood vessels in the skin which promotes heat loss through radiation. Conversely, vasoconstriction happens when the body is cold, minimizing blood flow to the skin's surface to reduce heat loss and conserve warmth for vital organs.