gooseflesh

physiology

Also known as: cutis anserina

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Gooseflesh, also known as goose bumps or gooseskin, refers to the roughness of the skin that occurs when tiny muscles attached to hair follicles contract, causing the hairs to stand on end. This physiological response is typically triggered by cold temperatures, fear, or sudden excitement. The term "gooseflesh" was first used around 1810, while "goose bumps" appeared in 1933.123

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human disease
Maintenance of health
On a cold day gooseflesh may develop, an example of a homeostatic response that is a throwback to mechanisms in lower animals. In fur-bearing ancestors of humans, cold external environments caused the individual hair shafts to rise and, in effect, produce a heavier, thicker insulation of the body against…
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On a cold day gooseflesh may develop, an example of a homeostatic response that is a throwback to mechanisms in lower animals. In fur-bearing ancestors of humans, cold external environments caused the individual hair shafts to rise and, in effect, produce a heavier, thicker insulation of the body against…
Read More