Anatomy of the Skin

Anatomy of the Skin

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Facts about the skin:

The skin is the body's largest organ, covering the entire body. In addition to serving as a
protective shield against heat, light, injury, and infection, the skin also:

• regulates body temperature.

• stores water and fat.
• is a sensory organ.
• prevents water loss.
• prevents entry of bacteria.

Throughout the body, the skin's characteristics (thickness, color, texture) vary. For
instance, the head contains more hair follicles than anywhere else, while the soles of the
feet contain none. In addition, the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands are much
thicker. The skin is made up of the following layers, with each layer performing specific
functions:

• epidermis
• dermis
• subcutaneous fat layer

epidermis The epidermis is the thin outer layer of the skin and consists of three parts:

• stratum corneum (horny layer)

This layer consists of fully mature keratinocytes which contain fibrous
proteins (keratins). The outermost layer is continuously shed. The
stratum corneum prevents the entry of most foreign substances as well
as the loss of fluid from the body.
• keratinocytes (squamous cells)
This layer, just beneath the stratum corneum, contains living
keratinocytes (squamous cells), which mature and form the stratum
 corneum.
• basal layer
The basal layer is the deepest layer of the epidermis, containing basal
cells. Basal cells continually divide, forming new keratinocytes that
replace the cells that are shed from the skin's surface.

The epidermis also contains melanocytes, which are cells that produce
melanin (skin pigment).
dermis The dermis is the middle layer of the skin. The dermis contains the following:

• blood vessels
• lymph vessels
• hair follicles
• sweat glands
• collagen bundles
• fibroblasts
• nerves

The dermis is held together by a protein called collagen, made by fibroblasts.

This layer also contains pain and touch receptors.
subcutis The subcutis is the deepest layer of skin. The subcutis, consisting of a
network of collagen and fat cells, helps conserve the body's heat and protects
the body from injury by acting as a shock absorber.