Countercurrent Heat Exchange. Blood flowing from the body core to the periphery (like the legs & feet) carries heat that can be readily lost through the skin. ... Blood vessels in the neck also employ a countercurrent arrangement and that results in a brain temperature about 1°C cooler than that of the body.

Do humans have countercurrent heat exchange?

Many animals (including humans) have another way to conserve heat. ... Such a mechanism is called a countercurrent heat exchanger. When heat loss is no problem, most of the venous blood from the extremities returns through veins located near the surface.

Does countercurrent heat exchange reduce heat loss?

Countercurrent heat exchange: Intricate networks of blood vessels act as countercurrent heat exchangers to heat blood as it returns from the foot to the body. This steep temperature gradient (yellow arrows) reduces heat loss and saves a tremendous amount of energy.