The skin is the largest organ of our bodies. The skin covers our bodies and provides a barrier protecting us from the external environment. As part of the protective role, the skin contains numerous sensory receptors to assist in monitoring changes in our external environment, along with our eyes, ears and other sense organs.
The skin consists of an outer epidermis and an inner dermis. Deep to the dermis lies a layer of adipose ( fat) tissue which is known, by histologists, as the hypodermis. It is not part of the skin. In gross anatomy, this layer is referred to as the superficial fascia. What functions does the superficial fascia have?
The epidermis is a stratified squamous keratinising epithelium. The keratin in the superficial layers of the epidermis is resistant to abrasion and chemical attack. What other features of the epidermis do you benefit from?
The dermis is connective tissue, mostly dense connective tissue. This layer is very strong and is important in maintaining the integrity of the more superficial epidermis. Leather, is essentially the dermis of a cow's skin.
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