Introduction to Skin Physiology 1

What is the largest organ in the human body?

Skin

What is the meter² for the surface of the skin??

2m²

What elements of nature does our skin protect us from?

Wind, water, UV Sunlight

What presence of layers in our skin protects us from water loss?

Keratin and glycolipids

How does sweat excreted from sweat glands helps us with harmful agents?

Dermcidin has antibiotic properties that helps us with detering microbes

How does our skin sense something from our environment?

Hair follicles

What corpuscles sense light touch?

Meisnner corpuscles

What corpuscles sense vibration?

Pacinian corpuscles

What cells seen in statrum basale are touch receptors?

Merkel cells

What is the purpose of the sensory nerves connected to each hair follicle?

Pain and temperatures are scattered here so that we sense these

How does the skin work as a protection barrier?

By being a physical barrier to injuries, pathogens, water loss, and UV radiation

How does the skin work as an immunity?

Langerhans cells detect pathogens early, while dermal macrophages clear debris and microbes

How does respiration differ from adults and newborn?

Minimal gas exchange happens in skin for both adults and newborn, but skin respiration has a big role in newborn

What do sweat glands secrete?

Water, salts, and waste

What do sebaceous glands secrete and what its purpose?

Secretes sebum for lubrication

What is Thermoregulation?

Thermoregulation is regulating the body’s temperature

How does thermoregulation regulate body’s temperature?

By sweating, secreting water and salts to cool the body when it's warm

Does our body sweat all the time?

Even if not visibly sweating, we are sweating 500mL of sweat

When our body’s become too warm due to high temps, how much sweat do we secrete per hour for an active person?

0.7 to 1.5 L per hour

How does our body cool itself?

Dissipation of sweat makes our body cooler

What does our body do to balance heat loss?

Vasodilation, sweat evaporation

What does our body do to conserve heat?

Vasoconstriction, adipose insulation

What layer of our skin synthesizes vitamin D?

Epidermal layter

Why does our skin synthesize vitamin D?

Vitamin D is synthesized when exposed to UV radiation

Why is vitamin D important?

UVB converts 7-dehydrocholesterol to vitamin D3, essential for calcium absorption and bone health

Does vitamin D do anything for our immune system?

Yes, it fights against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections