The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It is composed of two main layers, the epidermis and dermis, which provide protection, regulate temperature, and house sensory receptors. Below the dermis is a layer of fat called the hypodermis. The skin forms part of the integumentary system along with hair and nails. Its primary functions are to provide a protective barrier against pathogens and prevent fluid loss, while also regulating temperature and detecting stimuli in the external environment.

1. The Skin By Tracy Polk

2. The Organ: Skin The skin is the largest organ of the human body It receives little respect from its inhabitants It covers the entire body It’s pliable yet tough, allowing it to take constant punishment from external agents.

3. Skin Without our skin, we would quickly fall prey to bacteria The skin is compose of two regions, epidermis and dermis The epidermis is the outermost protective shield of the body The dermis make up the bulk of the skin, it’s a tough, leathery layer composed mostly of fibrous connective tissue

4. Skin Subcutaneous just deep to the skin is called the hypodermis The hypodermis stores fat and anchors the skin mostly to muscle

5. System: Integumentary The Integumentary Forms the external body covering Protects deeper tissues from injury Synthesizes vitamin D Houses cutaneous (pain, pressure, etc) receptors Sweet and oil glands

6. The Function The Primary function of the skin is to provide protection. It is a two way barrier between the internal environment and the outside world. It plays an important role in the regulation of temperature It houses sensory receptors to detect the environment around us. It secretes important fluids.

7. Function The two-way barrier is capable of keeping pathogens (disease-causing organisms) and harmful chemicals from entering the body. It stops critical body fluids from escaping the body. It prevents injury to the internal organs lying underneath the skin.

8. Fact We lose 30,000 to 50,000 old dead skin cells per minute and replace them with new younger cells. In fact, because of this process, our skin is replaced entirely about every seven years.

9. The End