What happens to the arterioles when the skin is cold?

When the skin is cold, the arterioles constrict as a response to help preserve body heat. Constriction of these small blood vessels reduces blood flow to the skin's surface, minimizing heat loss through the skin and helping to maintain the body’s core temperature. This physiological response is part of thermoregulation, allowing the body to conserve warmth during colder conditions.

In contrast, dilation of arterioles increases blood flow, which is typically a response seen in warmer temperatures to help release excess heat. Flattening of arterioles is not a physiological term commonly associated with blood vessel behavior, and remaining the same does not account for the active physiological response to cold. Therefore, the natural and necessary reaction of the body to cold conditions is for the arterioles to constrict.