Hidrosis is a medical term that refers to excessive sweating. The spelling of hidrosis can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is /hɪˈdrɑ/ with the stress on the second syllable. The "h" is silent, and the "i" makes a short "ih" sound. The "d" is pronounced, followed by the consonant sound "r" and the vowel sound "ah". The second syllable is pronounced /sɪs/, with a short "ih" sound for the "i" and a "s" sound for the "s". Together, the word is pronounced /hɪˈdrɑsɪs/.
Hidrosis is a term used in medical and physiological contexts to refer to the process of sweating or perspiration. It describes the body's mechanism of excreting fluids, mainly water, through the sweat glands located in the skin. Hidrosis is a natural and vital component of thermoregulation, as it helps regulate body temperature and prevent overheating.
The human body has two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands are distributed throughout the skin and facilitate the thermoregulatory process. When stimulated by factors like heat, physical activity, or emotional stress, these glands secrete a clear, odorless fluid composed of water, salts, and electrolytes that evaporates, cooling down the body.
On the other hand, apocrine glands, mainly found in the armpits and genital area, produce a thicker and more viscous fluid that, unlike eccrine glands, is odorless when first secreted. However, upon exposure to bacteria present on the skin's surface, apocrine sweat develops an unpleasant odor.
Hidrosis is not only essential for maintaining body temperature but also aids in the elimination of waste products and toxins from the body, promoting overall health. Any significant deviation from normal hidrosis can indicate underlying medical conditions, such as hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) or anhidrosis (lack of sweating). Therefore, understanding hidrosis and its various components is crucial for studying and diagnosing disorders related to the body's sweat production and regulation mechanisms.
Sweating, especially excessive sweating, hyperhidrosis, sudoresis.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "hidrosis" is derived from the Greek word "hidrōsis" (ἱδρώσις), which is formed from the verb "hidroō" (ἱδρόω). "Hidroō" means "to sweat" or "to release moisture through the skin". The English term "hidrosis" refers to excessive sweating or the medical condition known as hyperhidrosis.