Function of the skin

Question 1

What does the skin protect againts?

Answer 1

From bumps
From chemicals
From bacteria
From exposure to UV light
Heat / cold
Drying out

Question 2

What are the four functions of the skin

Answer 2

Protect
maintain temp
Makes vitamins
Absorption and excretion

Question 3

What metabolic activity produces heat and what does it do?

Answer 3

Muscle, liver, digestive tract

Helps maintain heat (constricts capillaries so less heat is lost)

Question 4

How does it lower the temperature?

Answer 4

Sweating,
radiation from body surface
Air moving over the skin

Question 5

How does the skin make vitamins

Answer 5

Precursor molecules in the skin are converted to Vitamin D by sunlight
Along with calcium and phosphate produce and maintain bone

Question 6

What is absorbed into the skin?

Answer 6

Some drugs e.g. transdermal patches

Some toxic chemicals – mercury, CCl4

Question 7

what is excreted from the skin?

Answer 7

Sweat = 
	water
	some salts
	some metabolic wastes (ammonia, urea, uric acid) 
	 lactic acid