Describe the role of blood vessels in the control of body temperature.

Control of body temperature is called thermoregulation. One mechanism for thermoregulation is the control of blood vessels in the skin to either increase or decrease heat loss.If body temperature is too high, heat must be lost in order to reduce body temperature. To do this, the blood vessels suppling the skin (arterioles) dilate, a process known as vasodilation. This means more blood reaches the surface of the skin and more heat is lost.If body temperature is too cold, heat must be retained. Heat loss is reduced by the process of vasoconstriction. During vasoconstriction, the blood vessels supplying the skin (arterioles) constrict to decrease the amount of blood reaching the skin. As less blood reaches the skin, less heat is lost.The processes of vasoconstriction and vasodilation are balanced to maintain correct body temperature.