The science of skin - Emma Bryce
TED-Ed・4 minutes read
The skin, comprising 16% of body weight and three layers, serves various functions like protection, regulation, and sensation, processing physical sensations through Merkel cells and acting as the primary defense system against invaders by hosting Langerhans cells. Skin, housing microbes, helps regulate body temperature through different mechanisms like blood vessel dilation, sweat secretion, and manipulating hair, with its 5 million hair follicles aiding in heat retention or dissipation.
Insights
- Skin, comprising 16% of body weight, plays a crucial role in protecting internal organs, detecting invaders through Langerhans cells, and regulating body temperature by manipulating hair, secreting sweat, and dilating/constricting blood vessels.
- The skin, with 1.7 square meters of coverage, acts as a sensory organ processing physical sensations through Merkel cells, showcasing its multifunctionality beyond mere protection, including absorption of pressure and serving as the primary defense mechanism of the body.
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Recent questions
What are the functions of the skin?
The skin serves as a protective barrier, regulates body temperature, and detects physical sensations.
How does the skin regulate body temperature?
The skin regulates body temperature through blood vessel dilation or constriction, sweat secretion, and hair manipulation.
What are the layers of the skin?
The skin consists of three layers: epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis.
How does the skin detect invaders?
The skin hosts Langerhans cells that detect invaders and alert the immune system.
How many hair follicles are on the body?
There are 5 million hair follicles across the body aiding in heat retention or dissipation.
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Summary
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"Skin: Body's Protective, Sensory Organ"
- Skin, constituting 16% of body weight, covers 1.7 square meters and is part of the integumentary system with three layers: epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, performing functions of protection, regulation, and sensation.
- Skin processes numerous physical sensations daily through Merkel cells and serves as the body's primary defense, sealing off internal organs, absorbing pressure, and hosting Langerhans cells to detect and alert the immune system of invaders.
- Skin, housing various microbes, regulates body temperature through blood vessel dilation or constriction, sweat secretion, and hair manipulation, with 5 million hair follicles across the body aiding in heat retention or dissipation.
