Blood circulation is considered to play an important role in heat transfer between living tissues, particularly, in peripheral vessels wherein the temperature is, generally, closely related with blood flow rate. The aim of this paper is to study the influence of blood flow rate on body temperature by means of a one-dimensional thermo-fluid model. This model has been recently developed for the circulation system of the upper limb and involves arteries, capillaries, and veins. Computed results of the blood flow, cross-sectional area, and temperature of each vessel are presented, and are then compared with available experimental data. The influence of the bending stiffness of the vessel walls as well as that of blood viscosity on blood pressure and temperature is analyzed. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.