Reply To: Week 7 – Discussion Board 1

The skin is known to be the largest organ on the human body. The skin, which is a part of the integumentary system, is composed of a plethora of protein, fats, minerals, and most importantly, water. The skin serves as a protector of the body. It helps protect the body from harm such as germs and helps with homeostasis. The skin contains nerves used to help differentiate the hot from the cold. This can be done through the hair follicles that are present. Oil glands, sweat, and nails are also part of the external part of the body.

There are three layers of the skin which are the hypodermis, the dermis, and the epidermis. Judging from the prefixes and suffixes, you can confer that the most bottom layer is the hypodermis which is a fatty layer present. The dermis is the middle layer and the epidermis is the top layer or surface layer of the skin.

The hypodermis layer is what serves as a ‘cushion’ for the muscles and bones. This fatty layer protects the muscles and bones from any injury. The hypodermis is connected to the muscles and bones by connective tissue. It is also good to know that in the hypodermis, the blood vessels are larger. The hypodermis connect to the rest of the body with the aid of the blood vessels and nerves. This layer also helps regulate body temperature.

The dermis contains a protein called collagen which is responsible for making the skin strong. Elastin is also found in the dermis. Elastin helps the flexibility of the skin. The dermis house hair follicles that are rooted in the layer. This is where the hair grows and reaches the top layer of the skin. The nerve receptors in the dermis help detect all senses impulsed from the surface layer of the skin. Oil glands are also part of the dermis. This helps make the skin silky smooth. The oil is hydrophobic which helps the skin from taking in too much water. Sweat glands can also be found in the dermis. Sweat is released through pores in the skin and is known to help in temperature regulation. Lastly, the dermis helps to supply nutrients to the surface layer through vessels.

Lastly, the epidermis is the surface layer that contains keratin. This protein is one protein that makes up the skin cells. The epidermis protects the body from invasive species that cause infections and illnesses. The epidermis constantly produces new skin cells and sheds dead skin cells every single day. The epidermis is also known to contain melanin which is what gives the skin color. Melanin is what determines your physical features such as your hair, eyes, and skin. The darker you are, the more melanin you have.

• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 4 days ago by Margareth Cruz.