What role does the skin play in the regulation of body temperature?

• A. The skin absorbs heat from the environment to increase body temperature.
• B. The skin stores excess heat to maintain a constant body temperature.
• C. The skin produces melanin to regulate body temperature.
• D. The skin releases sweat to cool the body through evaporation.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the skin is a crucial organ in thermoregulation, which is the process of maintaining an optimal body temperature.
2. Recognize that one of the primary mechanisms the skin uses to regulate temperature is through the process of sweating.
3. Sweat glands in the skin produce sweat, which is primarily composed of water and some salts.
4. When the body temperature rises, sweat is released onto the surface of the skin.
5. As sweat evaporates from the skin surface, it absorbs heat from the body, thereby cooling it down through the process of evaporative cooling.