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MEDYMOLOGY
ARBOR VITAE FOR HEALTH SCIENCES
Glomus body
Etymology:
L. glomus: "ball-shaped mass"
Definition:
A glomus body is a component of the dermis layer of the skin, involved in body temperature regulation. The glomus body is a small arteriovenous anastomosis surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue (resembling a ball-like shape). Glomus bodies (glomera) are most numerous in the fingers and toes. The role of the glomus body is to shunt blood away (heat transfer) from the skin surface when exposed to cold temperature, thus preventing heat loss, and allowing maximum blood flow to the skin in warm weather to allow heat to dissipate. The glomus body has high sympathetic tone and potentiation leads to near complete vasoconstriction.
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