Structure and Function of the Skin

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The Skin The skin is the largest organ of the human body and constitutes circa 16% of an adult humans body weight (around 11kg) and measures something in the region of 1.8m2. Essentially, the skin separates the internal environment from the external. It covers the entire human body and also gives us our visual shape and form. Functions of the skin The skin protects us from the changes in temperature, mechanical impact (pressure, stroke, abrasive damage), exposure to disease organisms, bacteria, infections, chemicals, exposure to extreme weather conditions and ultraviolet rays from the sun. The skin is the surveillance system for the body's immune system, how effective the immune system is depends largely upon ones genetic makeup. The outermost layer of the epidermis is coated with a thin layer of sebum, which helps to keep it waterproof. When germs do invade the skin inflammation occurs and processes are triggered to destroy the foreign substances. Regulation of Body Temperature The skin acts somewhat like a thermostat, aiming to keep the body at a constant body temperature of 37° C. When the skin is exposed to high temperatures, such as during the height of summer, sweat gland activity increases, perspiration therefore occurs, which evaporates as it gets to the skins surface, which results in a cooling effect. In addition to this, the capillary flow of blood increases, thus enabling the body to burn more calories, when the skin reddens during hot weather, it is a direct result of this action. Adversely, when the body is exposed to cold temperatures, the opposite happens, the blood capillaries contract to preserve body heat, so the skin does not get too cool, thus the skin becomes very pale to the eye. When cold the skeletal muscles may involuntarily contract by the process known as shivering, this is explained in more detail in the section

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