Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Sweating on paws and palms: what is its function?

S Adelman, C R Taylor, N C Heglund

The American Journal of Physiology

|November 1, 1975

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Magnetomicrometry.

Science robotics·2021

Same author

On prosthetic control: A regenerative agonist-antagonist myoneural interface.

Science robotics·2020

Same author

Tonic-clonic seizure after unrecognized unintentional dural puncture.

International journal of obstetric anesthesia·2020

Same author

The mechanics of head-supported load carriage by Nepalese porters.

The Journal of experimental biology·2016

Same author

Issues in using whole slide imaging for diagnostic pathology: "routine" stains, immunohistochemistry and predictive markers.

Biotechnic & histochemistry : official publication of the Biological Stain Commission·2013

Same author

Energy benchmarks for water clusters and ice structures from an embedded many-body expansion.

The Journal of chemical physics·2013

Same journal

Blood coagulation in fish.

The American journal of physiology·2011

Same journal

Renal tubular reabsorption, metabolic utilization and isomeric fractionation of lactic acid in the dog.

The American journal of physiology·2010

Same journal

The inactivation of placental toxin by human serum.

The American journal of physiology·2010

Same journal

Adrenal function following ovariectomy in the rat.

The American journal of physiology·2010

Same journal

Capillary permeability; perfusion of frog and guinea pig hind limbs.

The American journal of physiology·2010

Same journal

Evaluation of protective measures against sunburn.

The American journal of physiology·2010

See all related articles

Animal footpad sweating increases friction, preventing slips during running and climbing. This study demonstrates that blocking sweat glands significantly reduces paw-surface grip, highlighting its crucial role in locomotion and potentially in stress responses.

Area of Science:

Comparative physiology
Biomechanics
Mammalian biology

Background:

Palmar and plantar sweating in humans is linked to stress and exercise, not thermoregulation.
Proposed functions include enhanced friction, skin toughening, and increased tactile sensitivity.
The role of footpad sweating in mammals remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functional role of footpad sweating in mammals.
To determine if footpad sweating enhances friction between the paw and substrate.
To evaluate the impact of inhibiting sweat glands on paw-substrate friction.

Main Methods:

Comparative study across multiple mammal species (rat, tenrec, hyrax, dog) with footpad sweat glands.
Utilized an inclined treadmill to measure static friction coefficients.

Related Experiment Videos

Administered atropine sulfate to block sweat gland activity and observed changes in friction.

Main Results:

All tested mammals with footpad sweat glands exhibited sweating during running.
Blocking sweat glands with atropine sulfate significantly decreased static friction in these animals.
Atropine sulfate had no effect on friction in rabbits, which lack footpad sweat glands.

Conclusions:

Footpad sweating is crucial for maintaining grip and preventing slippage on substrates during locomotion (running, climbing).
This physiological mechanism enhances locomotion efficiency and safety in mammals.
Sweating in response to stress may prime animals for rapid escape behaviors.