The human skin is a fascinating organ studied under dermatology, with specialist cells and structures that work continuously.
The skin is like our natural protective suit, guarding us from potential dangers in the environment.
Although its importance in relation to the human body extends this function alone; the skin also helps to retain the right body temperature.
There are yet more functions of the skin that help us to be healthy and in full working order each and every day.
It is a receiver of information that will be sent to the brain and later processed to other areas of the body.
For example, our immune system would not be able to do its duties of fighting off disease if it wasn't for the information gathered by the skin.
To fully understand the processes of the skin, it is helpful to know the basics of its anatomy.
Let us take a look at the three layers of the skin in more detail - the epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous tissue.
In dermatology, the epidermis is the layer of skin that we can see, the most outward layer.
The thickness of this layer depends on the part of the body, with eyelids having the thinnest layer; the palms of the hands and the soles of our feet have the thickest layer of epidermis.
Even within the epidermis there are layers - five in total! The first layer from the bottom of the epidermis is called thestratum basale, whose cells are divided and continuously pushed towards the surface of the skin to replace dead skin cells; it is an ongoing process.
The very top layer of our skin is called the stratum corneum and it is a layer of dead skin cells that will eventually drop away and become replaced with the next lot of dead skin cells.
There are three types of cells that have a specialized duty within the epidermis; they are the Langerhans' cells, Melanocyte cells and the Merkels' cells.
The first from this list is a defense cell for the immune system, the second produces melanin which is the skin's pigment and the last is still undergoing scientific research to determine its full function within the epidermis.
The second layer of skin studied in dermatology is called the dermis, which also varies in thickness.
Although not separated by layering, the dermis comprises of three types of tissue - collagen, elastic tissue and reticular fibers.
Within the dermis there are a number of important cells such as the hair follicles.
There are nerves and blood vessels which react to pain, changing temperatures and other sensations.
Both the oil (sebaceous) and scent (apocrine) glands are within this layer of skin, as are the sweat (eccrine) glands.
The final layer of skin is the subcutaneous tissue which is mostly made from fatty tissue and connective tissues; the latter which consists of further blood vessels and nerves.
Its primary function is to control the temperature of both the skin and the body.
Dermatology is the study of the skin, its anatomy, understanding when things go wrong and how to cure or rehabilitate when something does go wrong.
The skin is like our natural protective suit, guarding us from potential dangers in the environment.
Although its importance in relation to the human body extends this function alone; the skin also helps to retain the right body temperature.
There are yet more functions of the skin that help us to be healthy and in full working order each and every day.
It is a receiver of information that will be sent to the brain and later processed to other areas of the body.
For example, our immune system would not be able to do its duties of fighting off disease if it wasn't for the information gathered by the skin.
To fully understand the processes of the skin, it is helpful to know the basics of its anatomy.
Let us take a look at the three layers of the skin in more detail - the epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous tissue.
In dermatology, the epidermis is the layer of skin that we can see, the most outward layer.
The thickness of this layer depends on the part of the body, with eyelids having the thinnest layer; the palms of the hands and the soles of our feet have the thickest layer of epidermis.
Even within the epidermis there are layers - five in total! The first layer from the bottom of the epidermis is called thestratum basale, whose cells are divided and continuously pushed towards the surface of the skin to replace dead skin cells; it is an ongoing process.
The very top layer of our skin is called the stratum corneum and it is a layer of dead skin cells that will eventually drop away and become replaced with the next lot of dead skin cells.
There are three types of cells that have a specialized duty within the epidermis; they are the Langerhans' cells, Melanocyte cells and the Merkels' cells.
The first from this list is a defense cell for the immune system, the second produces melanin which is the skin's pigment and the last is still undergoing scientific research to determine its full function within the epidermis.
The second layer of skin studied in dermatology is called the dermis, which also varies in thickness.
Although not separated by layering, the dermis comprises of three types of tissue - collagen, elastic tissue and reticular fibers.
Within the dermis there are a number of important cells such as the hair follicles.
There are nerves and blood vessels which react to pain, changing temperatures and other sensations.
Both the oil (sebaceous) and scent (apocrine) glands are within this layer of skin, as are the sweat (eccrine) glands.
The final layer of skin is the subcutaneous tissue which is mostly made from fatty tissue and connective tissues; the latter which consists of further blood vessels and nerves.
Its primary function is to control the temperature of both the skin and the body.
Dermatology is the study of the skin, its anatomy, understanding when things go wrong and how to cure or rehabilitate when something does go wrong.
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