The 5 Important Functions of Skin and hair.
The 5 Important Functions of Skin
Skin is very important to every human being. Actually human skin work is very important to our bodies.
Human skin is responsible for some important functions:
1. Water resistance: The skin acts as a water filter so essential nutrients aren't washed out of the body.
2. Excretion: sweat contains urea, However its concentration is 1/130th that of urine, hence excretion by sweating is at most a secondary function to temperature regulation.
3. Storage and synthesis: acts as a storage center for lipids and water, as well as means of synthesis of vitamin D by action of UV on certain parts of the skin.
4. Heat regulation: the human skin contains a blood supply far greater than its requirements which allows precise control of energy loss by rediation, convection and conduction. Dilated blood vessels increase perfusion and heatloss. While constricted vessels greatly reduce cutaneous blood flow and conserve heat.
5. Protection: an anatomical barrier from pathogens and damage between the internal and external environment in bodily defense. The human skin has multiple layers of ectodermal tissue and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and internal organs.
Human skin is similar to that most other mammals, except that it is not protected by a fur. Though nearly all human skin is covered with hair follicles, it can appear hairless. There are two general types of skin, hairy and glabrous skin. Because it interfaces with the environment, human skin plays a key role in protecting the body against pathogens and exessive water loss. Its other functions are insulation, temperature regulation, sensation, synthesis of Vitamin D, and the protection of Vitamin B folates.
Severely damaged skin will try to heal by forming scar tissue. This is often discolored and depigmented. In humans, skin pigmentation varies among population and skin type can range from dry to oily. Such skin variety provides a rich and diverse habitat for bacteria that number roughly 1,000 species from 19 phyla.