Skin Functions of Skin

► Mechanical/Chemical damage – keratin

toughens cells; fats cells cushion blows; and
pressure receptors to measure possible
damage
► Bacterial damage – skin secretions are
acidic and inhibit bacteria.
► Ultraviolet radiation – melanin produced to
protect from UV damage
 Skin Functions
► Thermal control – regulates body temperature
 Heat loss: sweat to cool the skin
 Heat retention: prevents blood to rush into capillary beds
► Waterproofing – contains lipids to prevent drying out
► Excretion of waste – urea and uric acid secreted in
sweat
► Makes vitamin D – modifies cholesterol molecules in
skin and converts it to vitamin D
 Skin Structure
►Epidermis — outer layer
 Stratified squamous epithelium
 Often keratinized (hardened by keratin)
►Dermis
 Dense connective tissue
►Subcutaneous tissue
 hypodermis
Skin Structure

Summary of layers from

deepest to most superficial:

Stratum basale
Stratum spinosum
Stratum granulosum
Stratum lucidum
Stratum corneum
 Skin Structure
►Subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis) is deep to dermis
 Not part of the skin
 Anchors skin to underlying organs, bones and muscles
 Contains half of the body’s fat; acts as padding and
insulation.
 Layers of the Epidermis
►Stratum basale
 Deepest layer of epidermis
 Cells actively undergoing cell division
 New cells are pushed upward to become the
more superficial layers
►Stratum spinosum – intermediate layer
►Stratum granulosum – another layer
 Layers of the Epidermis
►Stratum lucidum
 Formed from dead cells of the deeper layers
 Occurs only in thick, hairless skin of the palms
of hands and soles of feet
►Stratum corneum
 Outermost layer of epidermis
 Scale-like dead cells are filled with keratin
which is a protective protein preventing water
loss from skin
 Keratinization
► Cells migrate to the epidermis where eventually
they fall off.
► As they move upward, keratin is added.
► The cells in the epidermis contain a lot of keratin
which resists damage.
► Distinct layers of cells are called strata.

A cell takes ~ 40 – 56 from creation to sloughing off

 Melanin
►Pigment (melanin) produced by melanocytes
►Melanocytes are mostly in the stratum
basale
►Color is yellow to red to brown to black
►Amount of melanin produced depends upon
genetics and exposure to sunlight
 Melanin continued….
► Large amounts of melanin
occur in some regions like
freckles, moles, and
nipples.
► Less melanin occurs in the
lips, hands, and soles of
the feet.
► All races have the same
number of melanoctyes!
The amount of melanin
produced is determined by
genetics.
 Albinism
►A single mutation can cause a deficiency or
complete absence of melanin.
► Albinos have fair skin, white hairs, and
unpigmented eyes
 Dermis
►Two layers
 Papillary layer (upper dermal region)
► Projections called dermal papillae
 Some contain capillary loops containing blood
 Some pain receptors and touch receptors
 Reticular layer (deepest skin layer)
► Blood vessels
► Sweat and oil glands
► Deep pressure receptors
 What causes Normal Skin Color
►Melanin
 Yellow, brown, or black pigments
►Carotene
 Orange-yellow pigment from some vegetables
►Hemoglobin
 Red coloring from blood cells in dermal
capillaries
 Oxygen content determines the extent of red
coloring
 Dermis
►Overall dermis structure
 Collagen and elastic fibers located throughout
the dermis
► Collagen fibers give skin its toughness
► Elastic fibers give skin elasticity
 Dermal papillae – extend toward the epidermis
and deliver nutrients, remove waste products
(sweat = urea and uric acid) and aid in
regulating body temperature.
 What causes Normal Skin Color
►Melanin
 Yellow, brown, or black pigments
►Carotene
 Orange-yellow pigment from some vegetables
►Hemoglobin
 Red coloring from blood cells in dermal
capillaries
 Oxygen content determines the extent of red
coloring