skin Pages 488-493

Skin The skin is the largest organ in your body! If you were to stretch skin out it would be the size of a twin bed!

The functions of the skin Protects Body from… Injury Infection Water loss Regulates your Temperature Eliminates Waste Produces Vitamin D Gathers Information

Protecting the body The skin protects the body from disease-causing microorganism from entering the body. It also keeps important things in like water. “think of plastic wrap”

Regulates your temperature Skin helps to maintain a normal body temperature. Blood vessels run through the skin producing warm blood, we also sweat through our skin to release heat if we are too hot.

Eliminates waste Perspiration contains dissolved waste that is released through the skin.

Gathering information The nerves that are located in your skin warn your body of dangers. If you pinch yourself the skin sends receptors to your brain to have you feel pain. This is to make sure that you don’t hurt yourself even more.

Produces Vitamin D Some skin cells produce vitamin D in the presence of sunlight. Vitamin D is important for healthy bones.

Layers of the skin

Layers of the skin The skin is divided into two layers 1) Epidermis- outside layer of the skin. This is thinner than the dermis. 2) Dermis- is the inner layer of the skin. The dermis contains all the sweat glands, hairs, blood vessels, and oil glands

Parts of the skin (pg.490)

Melanin Is a pigment or color substance, that gives skin its color. The more melanin in your skin the darker color it is. Where do you think More melanin would be in People?

Caring for your skin Healthy diet will help your skin by producing more skin cells and making your hair and nails healthier. Keeping clean- helps with the oiliness. Take a shower! Limit sun exposure- this will make you wrinkle faster. Also can cause cancer.