Sweating

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Sweat redirects here. For other uses, see Sweat (disambiguation)

Sweating (also called perspiration or sometimes transpiration) is the production and evaporation of a watery fluid, consisting mainly of sodium chloride (the main constituent of "table salt") in solution, that is excreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals. Sweat also consists of the chemicals or odorants 2-methylphenol (o-cresol) and 4-methylphenol (p-cresol). In humans, sweating is primarily a means of temperature regulation. 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 dogs, accomplish similar temperature regulation results by panting, which evaporates water from the moist lining of the oral cavity and pharynx. Primates and horses have sweat glands in their skin, similar to humans.

Sweating, particularly cold sweat but also light, warm perspiration, are also often associated with fear or recalled fear. In the psychotherapy field, advocates of Re-evaluation Counselling claim that painful emotion is best relieved via the well-known (and sometimes automatic) discharge processes of crying, laughing, sweating, shaking and trembling.<ref>Counselling recovery processes - RC website</ref>

1 Sweat glands
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Sweat glands

In humans, there are two kinds of sweat glands which differ greatly in both the composition of the sweat and its purpose:

Eccrine sweat glands are distributed over the entire body surface but are particularly abundant on the palms of hands, soles of feet, and on the forehead. These produce sweat that is composed chiefly of water with various salts. These glands are used for body temperature regulation.
Apocrine sweat glands produce sweat that contains fatty materials. These glands are mainly present in the armpits and around the genital area and their activity is the main cause of sweat odor, due to the bacteria that break down the organic compounds in the sweat from these glands.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Ferner S, Koszmagk R, Lehmann A, Heilmann W., Z Erkr Atmungsorgane. 1990;175(2):70-5. 'Reference values of Na(+) and Cl(-) concentrations in adult sweat'

Sweating (Vegetables) - The addition of dry heat to effect a change in vegetables. Sweating vegetables usually results in tender, more translucent pieces and is used further in various culinary preparations.