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The skin is one of the largest organs the human body has and is a part of the integumentary system. The skin makes up fifteen percent of our total body weight. An average adult has 18 square feet of skin. Naturally, our skin sheds every twenty-seven days. Additionally, the skin serves functions such as protection, secretion and as a touch receptor. The skin has three layers which serve different functions to the body. The first layer is Epidermis, the top layer of the skin. This layer of skin consists of stacked cells called keratinocytes. Almost all of our skin is waterproof, also known as keratinized. Moreover, the color of our skin is made up of melanocytes. This has a pigment called melanin that creates our skin tone. Merel cells are found below epidermis. This is where our body is able to feel touch such as the cold, heat, contact and pain. The next skin layer is called dermis which consists of two layers, including the papillary and dermal layer. This skin layer is found under the epidermis. This layer is composed of loose connective tissue that provides elasticity, hair follicles and glands. The purpose of this middle layer of the skin is to protect the skin and the deep layers of it. Lymph vessels are also found in the dermis. Lymph vessels produce the clear fluid that contains white blood cells which help fight harmful substances. The last skin layer is called hypodermis which is the bottom layer of the skin. The function of this layer is to store energy, insulate the body and work as a cushion for our body’s internal organs. Overall, our skin is a very crucial organ to our body that helps maintain a protective barrier inside and outside of our body.
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