SKIN

• Skin is the largest organ of the

body. It is not uniformly thick. At some
places, it is thick and in some places it
is thin. The average thickness of the
skin is about 1 to 2 mm.In the soles of
the foot, palm of he hand and in the
inter scapular region, it is considerably
thick, measuring about 5mm. All other
areas of the body have got thin skin. It
is thinnest over eye lids and penis
measuring about 0.5mm only.
The skin is made up of two layers namely
1.Outer epidermis
2.Inner Dermis.
EPIDERMIS: It is made up of stratified squamous
epithelium. It does not contain blood vessels.
The nutrition is provided by the capillaries of
dermis.
Epidermis is made up of 5 layers
1.Stratum cornium Cornified
zone
2.Stratum Lucidum
( Superficial)
3.Stratum Granulosum

4.Stratum Spinosum Deep

• Stratum corneum: It is the outer most
layer. It is also known as horny layer. It is made
up of dead cells which are called as
corneocytes.These cells lose their nucleus due
to pressure and become dead cells. The
cytoplasm is flattened with fibrous protein
known as keratin. Apart form this, these cells
also contain phospholipids and glycogen.
• Stratum Lucidum: It is made up of flattened
epithelial cells. Many cells have degenerated
nucleus and in some cells the nucleus is absent.
These cells exhibit shiny character, the layer
looks like a homogenous translucent zone .So
the layer is called Stratum lucidum ( lucid –
Clear ).
• Stratum Granulosum;This is a thin layer with
2to5rows of flattened rhomboid cells. The
cytoplasm contain keratohyaline granules. The
protein keratohyaline is the precursor of keratin.
• Stratum Spinosum : This layer is also
known as prickle cell layer because the cells
of this layer posses some spine like
protoplasmic projections. By these
projections, the cells are connected to each
other.
• Stratum Germinativum : This is a thick
layer made up of polygonal cells superficially
and columnar or cuboidal epithelial cells in
the deeper parts. Here, new cells are
constantly formed by mitotic division. From
this layer some projections extend down up
to dermis. These projections provide
nutritional function.
The colour of the skin depends up on
the cells of this layer which contain the
pigment called Melanin.
 DERMIS : Dermis of the skin is a
connective tissue layer made up of dense
stout collagen fibers fibroblasts and
histiocytes. The collagenase, Which is
responsible for wound healing.
Dermis is made up of two layers;
1. Superficial papillary layer.
2. Deeper reticular layer.
 Superficial Papillary Layer: This layer
projects into the epidermis. This contains
the blood vessels, lymphatic's and nerve
fibers. This layer also has some pigment
containing cells known as chromatophores.
• Reticular layer : This layer is made up of
reticular and elastic fibers. These fibers are
found around the hair bulbs, sweat glands and
subaceaces glands.
Immediately bellow the dermis,
subcutaneous tissue is present. It is a loose
connective tissue which connects the skin, with
the internal structures of the body. This serves
as an insulator to protect the body from
excessive heat and cold of the environment.
The hair follicles with hair, nails, swat
glands and sebaceous glands, and even the
mammary glands are considered as
appendages of skin.
• Colour of the skin The colour of the skin
depends upon two important factors .
1. Pigmentation of the skin
2. Hemoglobin in the blood
• Pigmentation of the skin : Cells of skin
contain a brown pigment called Melanin .
The cells which synthesize this are called
melanocytes. After synthesis, this pigment
spreads the cells of the other inner layers.
Apart from melanin there are some more
pigments in the cells of the epidermis.

• MELANIN : It is a protein in nature and it

is synthesized from the amino acid,
tyrosine via dihydroxy phenyl alanine
( DOPA ). Skin becomes dark if the melanin
content is increased .
•Hemoglobin in the blood : The amount and
nature of the blood pigment,haemoglobin
circulating in the coetaneous blood vessels
play an important role in the coloration of the
skin. Paleness of the skin in anemia is due to
the decreased hemoglobin content. When
there is rush of blood due to coetaneous
vasodilatation the color of the skin becomes
pink. And the bluish color of the skin as in the
case of cyanosis is caused by excessive
amount of reduced hemoglobin.
FUNCTION OF THE SKIN
1. PROTECTIVE FUNCTION: Skin forms the
covering of all the organs of the body and
protects these organs from 1.Bacteria and
toxic substances.
2.Mechanial blow.
3.Ultraviolet rays.
• Protection from bacteria: Skin covers and
protects the organs from having direct
contact with external environment. Thus it
prevents bacterial infection. The karotenized
stratum corneum of epidermis is responsible
for the protective function of the skin. This
layer also offers resistance to the skin against
toxic and chemical substances. If the skin is
injured infection occurs due to invasion of
bacteria from external environment
 Protection from mechanical blow : The
is skin not tightly placed over the
underlined organs or tissues. The skin some
what loose and moves over the underlined
subcutaneous tissues. So the mechanical
impact of any blow to the skin is not
transmitted to the underlined tissues.
 Proction from ultraviolet rays: The skin
protects the body from ultraviolet rays from
sunlight. Exposure to sunlight or to any
other source to ultraviolet rays causes
increased production of melanin pigment in
skin. This absorbs ultraviolet rays.
 2. ROLE OF SKIN AS A SENSE ORGAN :
Skin is considered as the largest sense
organ of the body. The sensations of
touch,pain,perssure and temperature convey
the sensation through the afferent nerves to
the brain.
3. STORAGE FUNCTION : Skin can store fat,
water, chloride and sugar. It can also store
blood by the dilation of the blood vessels.
4. SYNTHESIS OF VITAMIN D : Vitamin D3 is
synthesized in skin by the action of
ultraviolet rays on cholesterol.
5. EXCRETORY FUNCTION : Skin can excrete
small quantities of waste materials like urea,
salts and fatty substances.
6.REGULATION OF BODY TEMPARETURE :
Skin plays an important role in the
regulation of body temperature. Excessive
heat is lost from body through skin by
radiation, conduction, convection and
evaporation. Sweat glands of skin take active
part in the heat loss by secreting sweat.
7.REGULATION OF WATRE AND
ELECTROLYTE BALANCE
Skin regulates water and electrolyte
balance in the body by excreting water and
salts through sweat.
8.ABSORPTIVE FUNCTION : Skin can also
absorb the fat soluble substances and some
ointments.
9. SECRECTORY FUNCTION.
Skin secretes sweat through
sweat glands and sebum through
sebaceous glands. By secreting sweat,
skin regulates body temperature and
water balance. Sebum keeps the skin
smooth and moist.

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