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Sweating (also called perspiration or sometimes transpiration) is the production and evaporation of a watery fluid, consisting mainly of sodium chloride (this chemical is actually table salt) in solution, that is secreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals. Sweat also consists of the chemicals or odorants 2-methylphenol (o-cresol) and 4-methylphenol (p-cresol). In humans, sweating is primarily a means of temperature regulation. Evaporation of sweat from the skin surface has a cooling effect due to the latent heat of evaporation of water. Hence, in hot weather, or when the individual's muscles heat up due to exertion, more sweat is produced. Sweating is increased by nervousness and nausea and decreased by cold. Animals with few sweat glands, such as dogs, accomplish similar temperature regulation results by panting, which evaporates water from the moist lining of the oral cavity and pharynx. Primates and horses have sweat glands in their skin, similar to humans.
Sweat glands In humans, there are two kinds of sweat glands which differ greatly in both the composition of the sweat and its purpose: See also | ||||||||
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