| Middle French perspiration excretion of [[moisture]] through the pores of the [[skin]] (1539; French perspiration) < ''perspirerperspire'' v. + -ation-ation suffix. Compare post-classical [[Latin]] ''perspiratio'' | | Middle French perspiration excretion of [[moisture]] through the pores of the [[skin]] (1539; French perspiration) < ''perspirerperspire'' v. + -ation-ation suffix. Compare post-classical [[Latin]] ''perspiratio'' |
− | '''Perspiration''' (sweating, transpiration, or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphoresis diaphoresis]) is the production of a fluid consisting primarily of [[water]] as well as various dissolved solids (chiefly chlorides), that is excreted by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweat_gland sweat glands] in the skin of [[mammals]]. Sweat contains the chemicals or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odorant odorants] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cresol 2-methylphenol] (o-cresol) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-Cresol 4-methylphenol] (p-cresol), as well as a small amount of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urea urea]. | + | '''Perspiration''' (sweating, transpiration, or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphoresis diaphoresis]) is the production of a fluid consisting primarily of [[water]] as well as various dissolved solids (chiefly chlorides), that is excreted by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweat_gland sweat glands] in the skin of [[mammals]]. Sweat contains the chemicals or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odorant odorants] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cresol 2-methylphenol] (o-cresol) and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-Cresol 4-methylphenol] (p-cresol), as well as a small amount of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urea urea]. |
− | In [[humans]], sweating is primarily a means of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoregulation thermoregulation], although it has been [[proposed]] that components of [[male]] sweat can act as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheromone pheromonal] cues. There is widespread [[belief]] that sweating, for example, in a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauna sauna], helps the [[body]] to remove [[toxins]], but the [[belief]] is without [[scientific]] [[support]]. [[Evaporation]] of sweat from the skin [[surface]] has a cooling [[effect]] due to the latent [[heat]] of [[evaporation]] of [[water]]. Hence, in hot [[weather]], or when the [[individual]]'s muscles heat up due to exertion, more sweat is produced. Sweating is increased by nervousness and nausea and decreased by cold. Animals with few sweat glands, such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog dogs], accomplish similar [[temperature]] regulation results by panting, which [[evaporates]] [[water]] from the moist lining of the oral cavity and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharynx pharynx]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primate Primates] and horses have armpits that sweat like those of [[humans]]. Although sweating is found in a wide variety of [[mammals]], relatively few, such as humans and horses, produce large amounts of sweat in order to cool down. | + | In [[humans]], sweating is primarily a means of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoregulation thermoregulation], although it has been [[proposed]] that components of [[male]] sweat can act as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheromone pheromonal] cues. There is widespread [[belief]] that sweating, for example, in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauna sauna], helps the [[body]] to remove [[toxins]], but the [[belief]] is without [[scientific]] [[support]]. [[Evaporation]] of sweat from the skin [[surface]] has a cooling [[effect]] due to the latent [[heat]] of [[evaporation]] of [[water]]. Hence, in hot [[weather]], or when the [[individual]]'s muscles heat up due to exertion, more sweat is produced. Sweating is increased by nervousness and nausea and decreased by cold. Animals with few sweat glands, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog dogs], accomplish similar [[temperature]] regulation results by panting, which [[evaporates]] [[water]] from the moist lining of the oral cavity and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharynx pharynx]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primate Primates] and horses have armpits that sweat like those of [[humans]]. Although sweating is found in a wide variety of [[mammals]], relatively few, such as humans and horses, produce large amounts of sweat in order to cool down. |
− | A [[study]] has [[discovered]] that [[men]], on [[average]], start perspiring much more quickly than [[women]], then twice as much when they are in the middle of exercising at the same [[relative]] intensity. When men and women [[exercise]] at the same absolute [[intensity]] there are no [[differences]] in sweating [[responses]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspiration] | + | A [[study]] has [[discovered]] that [[men]], on [[average]], start perspiring much more quickly than [[women]], then twice as much when they are in the middle of exercising at the same [[relative]] intensity. When men and women [[exercise]] at the same absolute [[intensity]] there are no [[differences]] in sweating [[responses]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspiration] |