Cutis marmorata is a vascular response of the skin characterized by a transient mottled or "marbled" appearance. This phenomenon occurs due to the constriction and dilation of blood vessels in response to temperature changes, particularly exposure to cold temperatures. The physiological basis is that cold exposure causes superficial blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow to the skin, which prevents heat loss. Meanwhile, deeper vessels may dilate to maintain core temperature, resulting in the mottled appearance. Therefore, cutis marmorata is primarily associated with cold temperature exposure.