Bob Gets Goosebumps

1. Bob Gets Goosebumps Contributors: Jamie Migliaccio

2. One day, Bob was playing soccer in the park, when a cold wind started blowing. He looked down at his arm and there were strange bumps on them.

3. Bob went to his doctor because he got scared because he didn’tknow what these strange bumps were. His doctor explained to Bob that they were goose bumps. He said that they were bumps caused by contraction of miniature muscles that are attached to each hair on Bob’s arm. These muscles are called arrector pilimuscles.

4. Bob’s doctor explained how goose bumps actually have many different names such as gooseflesh, horipilation, and cutis anserina

5. The doctor said how since it is a cold day, the cold wind probably caused Bob’s goose bumps. He said how when we are cold, the goose bumps form a layer of warmth. He told Bob how his body was just trying to warm up.

6. “Why does my hair stand up on the bumps?” Bob asked. Bob’s doctor explained that the muscle that contracts to cause the bump is attached to each hair, so the contraction pulls on the hair and makes it stand up. “Its kind of like when a cat gets scared and the fur on its back stands up” the doctor said.

7. Why don’t I have goose bumps on my hands, feet, or face? Bob asked his doctor. His doctor explained to him how since the palms of our hands and the bottom of our feet don’t have hair, we don’t get goose bumps. He also explained that although our faces do have hair and arrector pili muscles, the ones on our face control our facial expressions and are much bigger. “The muscles in our face have bigger jobs like making us smile” Bob’s doctor said, “that’s why they don’t contract for goose bumps.”

8. “Thank you for your help and teaching me about goose bumps” Bob said. “No problem” said his doctor, “just remember, next time you get cold and have goose bumps remember that they are a natural process and nothing to be afraid of!”