The Skin Flashcards
Describe the skin.
The skin is the largest organ of the human body that contain different types of nerve endings (receptors), making it sensitive to variations in sensation.
What are the functions of the skin?
- Protects the body from damage from UV rays (melanocytes in the epidermis produce the pigment melanin to do this)
- Stops bacteria and other pathogens from entering the body
- To excrete water and salt in sweat
- Regulates body temperature
- Makes Vitamin D with the help of the sun and
- Allow us to feel pain, touch, temperature and pressure
What are the three layers of the skin
- Epidermis
- Dermis
- Hypodermis (Subcutaneous or fat layer)
What is the function of the Epidermal Layer
- This is the top or outermost layer of the skin and its main job it to provide protection.
- This protective covering keeps our internal environment safe from its external environment and is the body’s first line of defense.
How is Skin Color obtained?
- Melanin is the pigment found in the found in the epidermis layer that gives skin its color. Melanin is made by melanocytes and its main function is to protect the skin from the sun’s UV (ultraviolet) rays, which can result in numerous harmful effects, including skin cancer. All races have the same number of melanocytes;
- however, these cells are more active in people with naturally dark-colored skin than in those with fairer complexion.
Example of Skin Disorders
- Albinism is an inherited generic condition that reduces the amount of melanin pigment formed in the skin, hair and or eyes.
- Vitiligo is a condition in which white patches appear on different parts of the skin due to the destruction of melanocytes.
Describe the Dermis Layer
The dermis, the skin’s second layer, is the thickest of the three layers and gives the skin its flexibility and strength.
What are the parts of the dermis?
The dermis contains nerve endings, sweat glands and oil (sebaceous) glands, hair follicles and blood vessels.
What is the function of nerve endings
Nerve endings sense pain, touch, pressure and temperature
What is the function of the sweat glands
Sweat glands produce sweat in response to heat and stress. Sweat is composed of water, skin, and other chemicals. As sweat evaporated from the skin, it helps cool the body.
What is the function of the Sebaceous glands?
Sebaceous glands secrete oil (sebum) to keep the skin moist and soft and acts as a barrier against foreign substances.
What is the function of the Hair follicles?
Hair follicles produces hair found throughout the body. Hair help to regulate body temperature, provides protection from injury, and enhances sensation.
What is the function of the Blood vessels of the dermis?
Blood vessels of the dermis provide nutrients to the skin and help regulate body temperature. Heat makes the blood vessels enlarge (dilute), allowing large amounts of blood to circulate near the skin surface, where the heat is released. Cold makes the blood vessels narrow (constrict), retaining the body’s heat.
Describe of the Hypodermis (Subcutaneous or Fat Layer)
Below the dermis lies a layer of fat, made up of adipose tissue. It is called the hypodermis or subcutaneous layer. The hypodermis layer is used as a fat storage. Adipose or fat tissue is crucial to the body’s overall health
What is the function of the Fat Layer?
- Insulation - adipose tissue helps insulate the body from heat and cold keeping the body’s core temperature constant.
- Protection- stored fat provides protective padding or cushioning around vital organs keeping them protected from sudden movements and external impacts.
- Energy - fats serve as a source of energy when stores of carbohydrates are low. Fats provide double the amount of energy than carbohydrates and protein.
