Download Skin Structure

The skin is composed of 2 layers:
1. Epidermis – the outermost layers of
cells
2. Dermis – below, a thicker layer of
tissue containing fat, blood
vessels, hair follicles and nerves
Epidermis
• Outer layers only dead cells and no blood
vessels
• Keratin hardens the cells, making the
surface waterproof
• Bottom layers produce new cells and
melanin which colours the skin
Dermis
• Living cells
• Contains blood vessels that help regulate
body temperature
• All tissues are held together by fibres
Ridges
• Where the dermis and epidermis meet,
there is a wave like layer that forms many
ridges
• These patterns show through the surface
of the skin = fingerprints
Nails
• Hard structures produced by epidermis
• These cells lose their cytoplasm which is
replaced by keratin making them hard and
durable
Hair
• Hair is a sensory organs with nerve
endings in the root
• The hair acts as tiny trigger to let the body
know something is touching it
• Men and women have the some amount of
hairs but women have finer hair