Encompassing structures like; hair, nails, nerves and glands, the integumentary system is evidently a hugely important and crucial organ within the human body (Science Net Links, 2015). Despite containing all of these structures however, the main component of the integumentary system is the skin. Consisting of three layers; epidermis, dermis and hypodermis, the skin plays key functional roles in the control of temperature within the body, production of essential vitamins, housing of sensory receptors, secretion of waste products and protection of the body (Kerr, 2010).
The skin is one of the most important organs of the whole human body. It is the largest organ in the human body and contains various functions including protecting the body from injury and preventing fluids from leaving or entering the body (Boer et al. 2016). In animals, the skin has various functions as well. The skin aids with locomotion in bats and aquatic mammals, help camouflage the body in chameleons, helps with finding mates for deer with their white tail, and serves for many other purposes. The skin is composed of three layers in the human body: the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layer. Melanin is produced from melanocytes in the epidermis of the skin. Melanin is important for protection from ultra-violet (UV) rays.
The skin is the body's greatest organ, and it serves as a guarding deterrent. Its wellbeing and surface appearance are controlled by common components and furthermore the limit of the parts that incorporate the layers underneath
The skin is one of the body’s largest and multifunctional organ. Depending on body size and mass it can weigh between 7 to 22 pounds (1). The skin’s roles are: protection from microbes and harmful substances, thermoregulation and sensation receptiveness of touch, heat and cold. The skin consists of three layers: the epidermis, dermis and the hypodermis. The outermost layer of skin, the epidermis, provides a waterproof barrier and consists of melanocytes. Melanocytes produce and store the pigment melanin which creates skin tone. Underneath the epidermis is the dermis; it contains tough connective tissue, hair follicles and sweat glands. The dermis has an arrangement of nerve fibers and blood vessels. Blood vessels carry nutrients and oxygen to the cells of the dermis and the epidermis, which are avascular (2). The
As mentioned earlier, “the skin is the largest organ in the body, accounting for approximately 16% of the total body weight of an adult” (McLafferty E, Hendry C, Alistair F. 2012). Throughout the body we see that skin has many variations of thickness which usually is determined by the specific function of the body area. Consisting of sweat glands that react to changes in temperature, and extensive layer of adipose tissue, and cells that are in charge of identifying changes in temperature, touch, and pressure. The skin is comprised of two main layers, the upper epidermis layer, and the lower dermis layer. Constructed of keratinized squamous epithelium, the epidermis contains four primary types of cells. The first and most abundant are keratinocytes charged with the production of keratin, a protein that helps give the epidermis its protective layer. Next up are cells known as melanocytes which are responsible for the synthesis of the skin
The epidermis is the external layer of the skin, mainly composed of keratinized stratified squamous epithelial. Epidermis is made up of keratinocytes (90%); melanocytes (8%) and the other (2%) represent Langerhans cells, Merkel cells and immunologically active cells derived from bone marrow (Kolarsick et al., 2011). Next to the epidermis is the dermis, which is composed of connective tissues (collagen and elastic fibres), blood vessels, sensory nerve endings, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, extracellular matrix (ECM), hair follicles and cells like dermal dendritic cells, fibroblasts, mast cells and macrophages. The dermis provides nutrition and support to the epidermis (Burr and Penzer, 2005). The last layer that separate the skin from internal parts of the body is called subcutaneous layer which is primarily composed of adipose tissue that acts to regulate body temperature in addition to its involvement in sensory and protective functions (James et al., 2006;
The skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system covering a total area of about 20 square feet with multifunctional purpose of protecting the body from heat, microbes, regulating body temperature and as well as acting as a sensory organ.1A healthy and glowing skin is what one desires for. But skin being extensively exposed to the environment, it undergoes physiological changes leading to dermatological diseases like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, fungal infections to severe conditions like squamous cell carcinomas. Apart from environmental factors, hormonal imbalance also plays a major role in various skin disease like acne, cellulite. In order to prevent and cure various skin diseases, topical products are widely dominating
Skin is made up of three major layers, the outermost layer being the epidermis, the deeper layer being the dermis, and the layer below the dermis or the hypodermis layer. The skin provides protection against pathogens, dehydration, UV light and mechanical trauma: 1) epithelial cells provide a barrier, sebaceous glands produce an oil called sebum, it has antifungal, and antibacterial properties, provides lubrication, hydration by preventing water loss from the epidermis, and increases the surface film that blocks toxic and caustic irritants. 2) contains somatic sensory receptors that can distinguish pain, heat, cold, and touch; 3) contains elastic and recoil properties that allows for growth and movement; 4) hormone production, vitamin D; 5)
In the epidermis there are 4-5 layers of cell, however, the skin that is most exposed to the sun is thin skin, which has 4 layers, because thick skin is located in the palm of your hands and feet. Sunlight is mostly exposed to outer surface of skin, epidermis, which also makes sense why basal and squamous cells is the most common skin cancer. In lab, we got to look at a 3D skin model, which showed all the layers of the skin. This allowed us to see where the layers of the skin are at and also what layers and structured get effected with
This layer of skin is made up of two sub-layers, the papillary layer and the reticular layer. Additionally, the dermis layer of skin houses nerve endings, sweat gland, sebaceous glands, hair follicles and blood vessels which work together to regulate the body’s temperature. Nerve endings function to allow us to sense pain, touch, pressure, and temperature, while sweat glands produce sweat in response to heat and stress. The sebaceous glands, which secrete oil into hair follicles to moisten the skin and act as a barrier against foreign substances. Together the papillary layer and the reticular layer provide our skin with its flexibility and strength. (SEER Training Modules,
Melanin is a pigment that determines the colour of the skin, eyes and hair, playing a role in camouflage, heat regulation and cosmetic variation. It also plays a critical role in photoprotection due to its ability to absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR). As the skin is the largest organ of the body, it is constantly influenced by external and internal factors thus, melanin is an important defence system that protects the skin against harmful factors (Costin & Hearing, 2007). The process by which melanin is produced and distributed by the epidermal units of the skin is called melanogenesis (Videira, Moura, & Magina, 2013). Extrinsic factors, such as UVR and certain chemical compounds, and intrinsic factors, such as secretions by keratinocytes or fibroblasts, can have an influence on melanogenesis. Predetermined genetic factors, such
Once the keratinocytes migrate up to the skin surface they are gradually shed and are renewed with cells pushed up from below. The furthermost section of the epidermis, the stratum corneum, is rather waterproof. Its function is to prevent most bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances from infiltrating the body. The epidermis also protects the internal organs, muscles, nerves and blood vessels against trauma. The stratum corneum is significantly thicker in areas such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet as they need more protection. Melanocytes are cells which produce the pigment melanin which are found scattered throughout the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanin is one of the main contributors to the colour of skin however, its primary function is to filter out ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This ultraviolet radiation is damaging for DNA which can lead to skin cancer and many other harmful effects. As well as keratinocyte and melanocyte cells, the epidermis also contains Langerhans cells. These cells help detect foreign substances, defend the body against infection and is also involved in the development of skin allergies. (MacNeal,
In the majority of the areas, just four layers can be differentiated: the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, and stratum corneum (p.119). Another layer is the stratum lucidum which can be found in the thicker part of the skin of the palms and soles (p.119). The epidermis has major protective function such as protecting the underlying wet tissues of water loss in excessive way, and against mechanical injury (p. 119). The epidermis also protects against the effects of dangerous chemical and to keep disease that cause microorganism out of the body (p.119). Melanocyts is a cell of the epidermis that produces melanin, a dark pigment that gives the color to the skin (p.119). Although genetic plays an important part in the skin color, the quantity of melanin interferes on how dark the skin is (p.119). According to Shier, Butler, and Lewis 2009 “melanin absorbs ultraviolet radiation in sunlight, preventing mutations in the DNA of skin cells and other damaging effects.”
Skin has three main layers that protect our bodies. The hypodermis is the deeper subcutaneous tissue that is made out of fat and connective tissue, storing most of the bodies fat. The dermis is a thick layer of fibrous and elastic tissue made of mostly collagen, that gives the skin it's strength and contains sweat glands, hair follicles and blood vessels. The epidermis is the outer layer of skin that provides a waterproof barrier and gives people their skin tone. Within the epidermis are multiple other layers that are also protecting us. “The outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, contains the skin’s main barrier. This is made up of 15–20 layers of skin cells, depending on the area of the body covered” (Collier 1).”
One form of skin cancer is melanoma, is the rarest but the most virulent of the skin cancers. It is responsible for 75% of all deaths from cancer. It is “a cancer that arises in the melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their color and that allows us to tan” (Schofield & Robinson, 2000, p. 1). Melanocytes are located throughout the body, “in the retina of the eye and in the linings of the mouth, nose, anus, rectum, vagina, and spinal cord,” (Schofield & Robinson, 2000, p. 6). However, majority of them are located in the skin. The purpose of these cells are to make melanin to protect our skin cells from the sun’s ultraviolet rays (UV rays). The melanocyte cells are found between the dermis (the second layer of skin) and the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin). Normally every ten cells found within the epidermis and dermis are melanocytes the others are cells called keratinocytes. Melanin is made inside the melanocytes then is transferred along the cells’ long arms (dendrites) to nearby keratinocytes in the epidermis. Melanoma arises when there is an uncontrollable increase in the reproduction of melanocyte cells. Although, skin cancer mostly develops just below the skin’s surface, where an existing mole is located, it can get into the blood vessels and lymphatic