Skin

By: Makayla, Sara, Sarah and Jordyn

What is it?
The thin layer of tissue forming the natural outer covering of the body of a person
or animal.

Why is it important?
It acts like a barrier from the outside and protects us from things like UV radiation.
It also helps to regulate your body temperature.

3 Layers of Skin
Epidermis - The upper or outer layer of the two main layers of cells that make up
the skin. The epidermis is mostly made up of flat, scale-like cells called squamous
cells.
Dermis - the layer of the skin just below the epidermis, consisting of papillary and
reticular layers and containing blood and lymphatic vessels, nerves and nerve
endings, glands, and hair follicles.
Subcutaneous - beneath or under all the layers of the skin

Touch Receptors
Also known as Mechanoreceptors which can
sense pressure, vibrations, and texture. There are
4 known types that only function to sense
indentations and vibrations. The 4 types are
Merkel's disks, Meissner's corpuscles, Ruffini's
corpuscles, and Pacinian corpuscles. Merkels
and Meissners are the most sensitive and are
usually located on the non-hairy parts of the body.
Ruffini and Pacinian are found deep within the
skin and detect vibrations.

Temperature Sensors
There are 2 main types of thermoreceptors:
Hot receptors - starts to perceive heat when the
temperature outside the body reaches or goes over
86 but anything over 113 triggers pain sensors
Cold receptors - when the temperature outside
your body drops below 95 then it triggers the cold
receptors
Thermoreceptors are located all over the body but
there are more cold receptors than hot receptors

Pain Receptors
Referred Pain - pain felt in a part of the body other than its actual source
Phantom Pain - pain that feels like it's coming from a body part that's no longer
there. Doctors once believed this post-amputation phenomenon was a
psychological problem, but experts now recognize that these real sensations
originate in the spinal cord and brain.

Types of burns
First degree burn - Also called a superficial burn
is a burn that affects the first layer of skin. It is
the most mildest form of a burn and they usually
dont require medical attention.
Second degree burn - This type of burn
damages beyond the top layer of skin. It causes
the skin to blister and turn extremely red and
sore. Second degree burns will usually heal
within 2-3 weeks.
Third degree burn - This type of burn extends
through every layer of skin. The damage can
even reach the bloodstream, major organs, and
bones which can lead to death. This type of burn
can cause the skin to look waxy and white,
charred, dark brown, and/or raised and leathery.

Rash
What is it - A noticeable change in the texture or color of
the skin
Symptoms - Itchy, bumpy, chapped, scaly, or generally
irritated skin
Treatments - creams, lotions, or oatmeal baths

Rashes can be caused by: allergies, medication,

cosmetics, dyes in clothing, chemicals, and various
diseases
Eczema, dandruff, bug bites, or psoriasis are other
types of rashes.

Skin Cancer
What is it - uncontrolled growth of
cancer cells in the skin
Symptoms - If the edges of a mole or
freckle are irregular rather than fairly
even all around, color variation of a
mole or freckle, large brown spot with
dark speckles inside
Treatment - surgery, radiation,
chemotherapy

Citations
http://www.cancer.gov/PublishedContent/Images/images/cancer-types/cthp/skin_anatomy_enlarge.jpg
http://i2.wp.com/www.lifescandyjar.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/epidermis1.jpg?resize=270%2C203
https://www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/boundless-biology-textbook/sensory-systems-36/somatosensation206/somatosensory-receptors-778-12012/
http://www.sadriancosmeticsurgery.com/files/2015/08/sadrian_3layers_of_skin.jpg
http://www.healthline.com/health/skin-cancer/symptoms#Overview1
http://www.nurseland.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Referred-Pain-Map.jpg
http://www.healthline.com/health/burns#Overview1
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v519/n7543/full/nature14209.html