Goosebumps
Posted by Alex Binder on November 16, 2005
Q: Our class is having a discussion about skin and the topic of goosebumps came up. We came up with a bunch of names for goosebumps but we wondered if there was a scientific name for goosebumps. Is there a scientific name for goosebumps and what is it?
A: Boy, I'd like to be in your class! Sounds like you have some interesting topics that you discuss. It never occurred to me to wonder what the scientific term was and now that you've asked, I had to look it up to be sure.
The scientific word for goosebumps is, piloerection. Pilo refers to "hair" and erection to "standing up". Thanks so much for asking, we all learned something today!
Hope to hear from your class again in the near future.
John Wiessinger ( November 16, 2005)