Goose Bumps

Goose bumps ( AE ), also called '''goose pimples''', '''goose flesh''' ( BE ), '''chicken skin''' ( Hawaiian Pidgin ), or '''''cutis anserina''''', are the bumps on a person's Skin at the base of body Hair s which involuntarily develop when a person is cold or experiences strong emotions like fear. The Reflex of producing goose bumps is known as '''horripilation''', '''piloerection''', or the '''pilomotor reflex'''. It occurs not only in humans but also in many other Mammal s; a prominent example are Porcupine s which raise their quills when threatened.

Goose bumps are created when tiny Muscle s at the base of each Hair , known as '' Arrectores Pilorum '', contract and pull the hair erect. The reflex is started by the Sympathetic Nervous System , which is in general responsible for many Fight-or-flight Response s.

Goose bumps are often a response to cold: in animals covered with s. In humans, it can even extend to piloerection as a reaction to hearing nails scratch on a chalkboard or listening to awe-inspiring music.David Huron. Biological Templates for Musical Experience:
From Fear to Pleasure. Abstract

Piloerection as a response to cold or fear is Vestigial in humans; as humans retain only very little body hair, the reflex now serves no known purpose.

In humans, goose bumps are strongest on the forearms, but also occur on the legs, back, and other areas of the skin that have hair. In some people, they even occur in the face or on the head.

Piloerection is also a (rare) Symptom of some diseases, such as temporal lobe Epilepsy , some Brain Tumor s, and Autonomic Hyperreflexia .
A skin condition that mimics goose bumps in appearance is Keratosis Pilaris .

Goose bumps can only occur in mammals, since other animals do not have hair. The term "goose bumps" is therefore misleading: the bumps on the skin of a plucked Goose technically do not qualify as piloerection. Birds do however have a similar reflex of raising their feathers in order to keep warm.

The Latin ''horrere'' is the root of words such as "horrific" or "horror"; it means "to stand on end" and refers to the standing hairs of goose bumps. In other languages, the "goose" may be replaced by other kinds of poultry. For instance, " Hen " is used in both French and Chinese (''la chair de poule'', 雞皮疙瘩).

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