Skin is the largest organ of the human body and serves several vital roles in the digestive process. Skin also protects internal body parts from infections, prevents tears and burns, cushions the body from external injuries, removes sweat and secures the body to a particular position. Skin also has many special functions, but one of the most important is to protect us from injury and disease. Other animal covers, like the armpit or caveman’s skin, possess different composition, development and structural structure.
The word “skin” actually comes from the Greek word silicon, which means “to cover.” In animals, the word cover translates to “defense,” while the word in human refers to “an outer covering.” The term cutaneous refers to the outer covering. The skin is an extremely important organ in the human body. It is the largest organ, second only to the kidney.
The skin has three basic layers: the epidermis or top layer, the dermis or middle layer and the subcutaneous tissue or base or bottom layer. The thickness varies from person to person and can range from one to two meters or even more. The dermis is made up of four main article layers: a fatty layer, an elastic thinning layer, and two types of supportive tissue. The subcutaneous tissue is the main article of skin and is the part that we see when we look in the mirror.
The epidermis is the outermost layer, thickest and strongest layer, covering most of our body. It is composed of two main elements – fat and protein. The epidermis acts as a protective barrier against irritation and infection, while the dermis is the layer of connective tissue that brings together the primary body components such as muscles and ligaments. The epidermis is divided into two areas: the superficial epidermis or outer layer, which is easily damaged, and the deep epidermis or inner layer, which is structurally stronger than the surface. The dermis is the second layer of skin, responsible for providing strength to the epidermis, allowing it to carry away water and nutrients from the outside environment.
While the epidermis consists of four main articles of skin, the dermis is made up of fifty-three different layers. The innermost layer is called the reticular epidermis, which is the deepest layer, while the outer most layer is known as the epidermis. The middle layer is known as the reticular dermis, which spreads over the entire surface of the skin. The outermost layer, known as the stratum corneum, is the first layer that we see upon waking in the morning.
There are many functions for these layers of the skin. The epidermis protects the skin from abrasions and foreign substances that enter it. The dermis provides support for the epidermis, as it is the second layer of the body providing structure and insulation to the skin. Finally, there are the visceral or tactile nerves, which allow us to feel touch and pain. These five layers have their own specific roles in the health of a human being, but in mammals the entire integumentary system is present together.
