Gooseflesh
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Gooseflesh is a skin condition that occurs in response to cold or strong emotional disturbances, characterized by small, non-merging follicular papules on the skin of covered body parts, particularly on the extensor surfaces of limbs. It is caused by the contraction of the arrector pili muscles, which straighten the hairs and create the clinical appearance of gooseflesh.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
Gooseflesh (cutis anserina), occurs under the influence of cold, and sometimes also during strong emotional disturbances (e.g., during sudden fright) and consists in the appearance on the skin of covered parts of the body, predominantly on the extensor surfaces of the limbs, of a series of small, non-merging follicular papules of the color of normal skin. When passed by the hand, such skin gives the impression of a grater, and in appearance it resembles the skin of a plucked goose. The cause of the appearance of gooseflesh lies in the contraction of the mm. arrect. pilorum, which at this time straighten the hairs, which determines the clinical appearance of gooseflesh papules. Gooseflesh is also observed on corpses; for the possible significance of this, see Corpse.
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Cite this page
“Gooseflesh.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/gooseflesh/