• Question: What are goosebumps?

    Asked by to sakshisharda, Edward, Ian, Mathew, Naomi on 17 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Sakshi Sharda

      Sakshi Sharda answered on 17 Jun 2014:

      Hi 13eneale

      Goosebumps are what you get on your skin when you get scared or shocked by something. The skin creates rapid response in which the muscle attached to each of your hair, under the skin (called erector muscle) contracts and causes the hair on the skin to rise up or ‘stand straight’. This leads to temporary bumps on the skin which go away as soon as the erector muscle is relaxed again. This happens naturally and you have no control over it.

      Next time also notice that you would get these when you feel really cold or go outside in the winters without a jumper! In this case when the hair ‘stand up’ they insulate under them some warm air which is comforting to the body and helps you to beat the cold. So next time you get goosebumps, you know what’s happening! 🙂

    • Photo: Naomi Osborne

      Naomi Osborne answered on 22 Jun 2014:

      When we’re scared or emotional, a hormone called adrenaline is produced which causes our muscles to contract and form goosebumps. This is also happens in cats and it’s to make their hair stand on end so they look bigger and and scarier to predators. For us it’s now pretty pointless and goosebumps don’t really have a purpose unless we’re cold!

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