B.

SKIN
The skin is the largest organ in our body and has a surface area of about 1.5-2 sq.m in
adults. It is the outer covering of the body and is continuous with the mucous membrane lining
the body orifices. In certain areas, it contains accessory structures like glands, hair and nails.

Function of skin:

1. Skin protects the underlying structures from injury and from invasion by microbes.
2. It contains sensory nerve endings that enable discrimination of pain, temperature and
touch.
3. It is involved in the regulation of body temperature.
4. Some amount of water and fats are stored in the skin.
5. Vitamin D is formed by the skin through sunlight.
6. Some drugs can be absorbed by the skin.

Structure of Skin:

There are two main layers which are Epidermis (the top layer), Dermis (the middle
layer), between the skin and underlying structures is a subcutaneous layer composed of areolar
tissue and adipose tissue.

Epidermis:

This is the most superficial layer and is composed of stratified keratinised squamous
epithelium. It varies in thickness, being thickest on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
There are no blood vessels or nerve endings in the epidermis. There are several layers in
epidermis, the deepest is germinative layer to top layer stratum corneum, hair shaft and
opening of sweat ducts also seen.

Functions:

1. Epidermis keeps bacteria, germs entering our body and also protects against sun,
rain and other elements.
2. It makes new skin cell, about 40,000 old skin cells shed off everyday and replace
every 30 days.
3. The epidermis contains melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour.
 Dermis:

The dermis is tough and elastic, makes up of 90% of the skin and is formed from
connective tissue and the matrix contains collagen fibres. It contains:

- Blood vessels: Arterioles and capillary branches supplying sweat glands, sebaceous
gland, hair follicles.
- Lymph vessels: It forms network throughout the dermis.
- Sensory nerve endings: Sensory receptors, sensitive to touch, temperature, pressure
and pain are widely distributed in the dermis.
- Sweat glands: These are widely distributed throughout the skin and are most
numerous in the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and groins.
- Hairs: These grow from hair follicles, at the base of follicle is a cluster of cells called
hair papilla or bulb.
- Arrector pili: These are attached to the hair follicles, contracting hair erect and
raises the skin around the hair and causing goose flesh/goosebump.
- Sebaceous glands: They secrete an oily antimicrobial substance called sebum.