Lesson 5 – The Skin

1. Lesson 5 – The Skin

2. The skin covers and protects the body from injury, infections, and water loss. The skin also helps regulate body temperature, eliminate wastes, gather information about the environment and produce vitamin D. The Body’s Tough Covering

3. The skin protects the body by forming a barrier that keeps disease-causing microorganisms and harmful substances outside the body. • The skin also keeps important substances inside the body like plastic wrap. Protecting the Body

4. Many blood vessels run throughout the skin. When you become too warm, these blood vessels enlarge and the amount of blood that flows through them increases. • These changes allow heat to move from your body into the outside environment. • As perspiration evaporates from your skin, your skin is cooled. Maintining Temperature

5. Perspiration contains dissolved waste materials that come from the breakdown of chemical during cellular processes. • Thus your skin is also helping to eliminate wastes that come from the breakdown of proteins that are eliminated during perspiration. Eliminating Wasted

6. The nerves in your skin provide information about such things as pressure, pain and temperature. • Pain messages are important because they warn you when something in your surroundings may have injured you. Gathering Information

7. Vitamin D is important for healthy bones because it helps the cells in your digestive system to absorb calcium in your food. • Your skin can get the Vitamin D it needs to function from sunlight. Producing Vitamin D

8. The skin is organized into two main layers, the epidermis and dermis. • The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin . The epidermis does not have nerves or blood vessels. That is why you do not feel pain from very shallow scratches. The Epidermis and Dermis

9. Cells deep in the epidermis produce melanin, a pigment or colored substance that gives skin its color. • The more melanin in your skin, the darker it is. • Exposure to sunlight stimulates the skin to make more melanin. • Melanin production also help to protect the skin from burning.

10. The dermis is the inner layer of the skin. • The dermis contains nerves and blood vessels. It also contains sweat glands, hair, and oil glands. • Sweat glands produce perspiration, which reaches the surface through openings called pores. • Strands of hair grow within the dermis in structures called follicles.

11. Three simple habits can help you keep your skin healthy. • Eat a healthy diet • Keep your skin clean and dry • Limit your exposure to the sun. Caring for your Skin