GENERAL ANATOMY

SKIN
FUNCTIONS OF SKIN
LAYERS OF SKIN

By- Anuja Bawane

Siddhi Bhandari
(1st year BPth )
  SKIN
• Skin is the general covering of the entire external surface of the body,
including the external auditory meatus and the outer surface of tympanic
membrane.
• It is continuous with the mucous membrane at the orifices of the body.
• Because of a large number of its functions, the skin is regarded as an
important organ of the body.
• The thickness of each layer of the skin varies depending on body region and
categorized based on the thickness of the epidermal and dermal layers. Hairless
skin found in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet is thickest because
the epidermis contains an extra layer, the stratum lucidum. The upper back is
considered thickest based on the thickness of the dermis, but it is considered
“thin skin” histologically because the epidermal thickness lacks the stratum
lucidum layer and is thinner than hairless skin.
 Functions of Skin
1. Protection: Skin protects the body from mechanical injuries
i. Physical barrier: Due to stratum corneum, skin acts as a better against bacterial infections, heat and
cold, wet and drought, acid and alkali.
ii. Immune properties: Langerhans cells phagocytose antigen and take it to T lymphocytes.
iii. Reflex action: Sensory nerve endings start reflex action against painful stimuli and prevent it from
damage.
iv. The actinic rays of the sun are absorbed by melanocytes.
2. Sensory. Skin is sensory to touch, pain and temperature.
3.Regulation of body temperature: Heat is lost through evaporation of sweat. It is conserved by the fat
and hair.
4. Absorption: Oily substances are freely absorbed by the skin.
5. Secretion: Skin secretes sweat and sebum.
6. Excretion: The excess of water, salts and waste products are excreted through the sweat.
7. Regulation of pH: A good amount of acid is excreted through the sweat.
8. Synthesis : In the skin, vitamin D is synthesized from ergosterol by the action of ultraviolet rays of the
sun
9. Storage: Skin stores chlorides.
10. Reparative: The cuts and wounds of the skin are quickly healed.
 Layers of skin
• Skin is made up of three
layers, the epidermis, dermis,
and the hypodermis, all three
of which vary significantly in
their anatomy and function.

 Epidermis-

It is superficial, avascular layer of stratified

squamous epithelium.
It is ectodermal in origin and gives rise to
appendages of the skin, namely hair, nails,
sweat glands and sebaceous glands.
Structurally, the epidermis is made up of a deep germinative zone.

Produce keratin for strength

Deep
GERMINATIVE ZONE

Part of immune system

Phagocytic in nature

Contribute to skin colour

Synthesize melanin

Produce new skin cells Sensory receptor cells

Detect light touch and pressure
 Stratum corneum

• The cells of deepest layer proliferate and pass towards the surface to replace the
cornified cells lost due to wear and tear .
• As the cells migrate superficially , they become more and more flattened , and loose
their nuclei to form flattened dead or corneocytes of stratum corneum.
• Layers of corneocytes produce high mechanical strength which allows epidermis of
the skin to perform its function as a physical, chemical and immunological barrier.
 Dermis
• Dermis or corium is the deep, vascular layer of the skin, derived from mesoderm.
• It is made up of connective tissue (with variable elastic fibres) mixed with blood vessels,
lymphatics and nerves.
• The connective tissue is arranged into a superficial papillary layer and a deep reticular layer.

• The papillary layer forms conical, blunt projections

(dermal papillae) which fit into reciprocal
depressions on the undersurface of the epidermis.
• It provides nutrient and oxygen to germinating
cells of epidermis.
• The reticular layer is composed chiefly of the
white fibrous tissue arranged mostly in parallel
bundles.
• Consists of collagen(tensile strength) and
elastin(elastic properties) to the skin.
 Hypodermis
• The hypodermis is the bottom layer of skin. Also known as subcutaneous tissue, the hypodermis insulates
and protects the body, stores energy (in the form of fat), helps to regulate body temperature, and connects
the skin to muscles and bones.
• The hypodermis is yellowish. Depending on how much of the pigment called carotene is in your
hypodermis, it can be dark yellow or light yellow.

• The hypodermis consists of well-vascularized, loose,

areolar connective tissue and adipose tissue, which
functions as a mode of fat storage and provides
insulation and cushioning for the integument.

• The hypodermis varies in thickness across your body.

It’s thinnest over your eyelids and external genitals,
where it may be less than 1 millimetres thick. It’s
thickest in your abdomen and butt, where it may be
over 3 centimetres thick.