Skin

The Skin: Our Protective Barrier and Sensory Organ

The skin is a surface organ that forms the boundary between the organism and the external environment. It protects the human body from pathogens, sunlight, and dehydration.

The skin consists of various layers:

• Cutis, comprising the epidermis (outer skin layer) and dermis or corium (inner skin layer)
• Subcutis (subcutaneous tissue)

Embedded within the skin are skin appendages (hair, nails, sweat, sebaceous, and apocrine glands), blood vessels, nerve endings, thermo- and touch receptors, which serve both protection and interaction with the environment. Thus, the skin forms our largest sensory organ. The main functions of the skin include:

• Protection against environmental influences
• Thermoregulation (sweating, shivering)
• Energy reserve in the form of stored fat
• Sensory perception
• Vitamin D synthesis under UV radiation