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Gänsehaut

Rebecca Straub, Lori HerberFebruary 14, 2014

Brrr, it's cold out here!

Close up photo of an arm with goosebumps on it Photo: Carmen Jaspersen/dpa
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Should you ever pluck the feathers from a goose, you'll note the pink, prickly skin underneath, literally, "Gänsehaut," or "geese skin." Humans happen to have a type of geese skin, as well. It's called "goose bumps" in English.

Whenever you're outside and a cool wind chills your body, or if you're frightened watching a scary movie, you may get goose bumps - tiny bumps along your skin. Sometimes when we're emotionally overwhelmed with something we really enjoy - like a good song or a touching story - these tiny bumps may make an appearance.

Being chilled or frightened causes a muscle reflex that makes our hair follicles tense up and our hairs stand on end. This was originally a tactic to help keep our bodies warm, or to make our bodies appear larger to potential threats. We're not as hairy as our prehistoric forefathers, which means that nowadays when we get "Gänsehaut," we're more likely to look like a plucked goose than a bushy beast.

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