Structure and function of the skin

The skin of a person is one of thethe largest organs of the body, which has its anatomy and physiology and occupies 5% of the body weight. The structure and functions of the skin are quite complex. It consists of several layers: epidermis, dermis (skin) and fatty tissue, and each of them has several layers in its structure.

So, the epidermis has five of them:

1. The main (embryonic) - produces melanin,thanks to which the skin can acquire different shades. In this case, the more it is, the darker the human skin. In addition, there is a multiplication of cells.
2. Subulate. Through the processes of the cells that make up this layer, lymph flows, which feeds the cells and removes the decay products.
3. Granular - contains keratogialin. On the soles and palms, he has five rows of cells.
4. Transparent - contains an aidein and consists of three rows of cells. It is developed on the soles and palms, but it has no lips.
5. External (horny) - contains keratin, whichhelps maintain skin moisture level, the cells can easily peel off. Moreover, this layer is quite dense and elastic, it protects the skin from mechanical and chemical effects, for example, injuries, cold, burns and other.

Considering the structure and functions of the skin, it is impossible not to note the dermis itself. It has two layers:

1. Papillary layer - contains thin and delicate fibers.
2. Mesh - contains sebaceous and sweat glands, here the fibers are collected in bundles, from their elasticity depends such a property of the skin as elasticity.

Next, consider the structure and function of the skin, in particular, subcutaneous fat.

Fat is the deepest layer. It is a mesh with lobules of adipose tissue, which provides thermoregulation of the whole body and serves as a protection against bruises. There are large vessels and nerves, as well as muscles and sebaceous glands. It is interesting that in the female this layer is somewhat thicker than in men. Very weakly it is expressed on lips and auricles.

Skin, the structure and functions of which are quite complex, has two nets of blood vessels:

1. A network located on the border of the dermis and fatty tissue.
2. A network located between the mesh and papillary layers.

The color of the skin depends on the location of these vessels. The closer they are to the surface, the more pronounced the blush.

It should be said that the structure of the skin at differentdifferent parts of the body. Dense and rough is on the soles and palms, on the body it is elastic and elastic. The most delicate skin is on the person's face. The structure of the skin of the face is due to the interweaving of the striated muscles in it, so it is mobile.

Skin functions are quite diverse:

1. Protective function - protecting the body frominfluence of external factors, including mechanical and radioactive. Also one of the properties of the skin is protection against microorganisms. These functions provide the epidermis (stratum corneum) and fatty tissue.
2. Absorption function of the skin is the ability to absorb certain gaseous, water- and fat-soluble substances. This function is provided by the stratum corneum of the epidermis.
3. The excretory function is carried out with the help ofsebaceous and sweat glands under the control of the nervous system. How well the substances are released through the skin depends on the age and nutrition of the person, as well as the influence of the environment.
4. Thermoregulation - the body's ability to maintain a certain unchanged body temperature. This process is 80% through the skin.
5. Participation in metabolic processes - in the skin there is a water exchange, as well as the exchange of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and salts.

Having considered the structure and functions of the skin, we can conclude that it is an indispensable organ of the human body, participating in its development and life.