1. Chapter 14 Section 4: Skin
Key concepts: What are the functions and the structures of skin? What habits can help keep your skin healthy?
Key terms: epidermis, melanin dermis, pore, follicle, cancer

2. The body’s tough covering
Your skin covers and protects your body from injury, infection, and water loss. The skin also helps regulate body temperature, eliminate wastes, gather information and produce vitamin D.

3. Skin functions Protects your body – keeps stuff out and in
Maintains temp
Eliminates wastes – perspiration contains dissolved waste materials
Gathers information – pressure, pain, temp
Vitamin D producer – takes sunlight and makes vitamin D

4. Epidermis
The skin is organized into two main layers, the epidermis and the dermis.
Epidermis is the outer layer of the skin. It is usually thinner than the dermis.

5. Epidermis structure
Each epidermal cell begins deep in the epidermis, where cells divide to form new cells. As they mature, cells move upward. After about two weeks, cells die and become part of the skin surface layer.
Meaning you’re covered with dead stuff. You are the walking dead.

6. You

7. Epidermis function
The protection provided by your skin is mostly due to the dead cells. The shedding of them also carries away bacteria.
Melanin – produced deep in the epidermis – a pigment that gives skin its color

8. Dermis Dermis – inner layer of the skin. Below the epidermis.
Contains nerves and blood vessels, sweat glands, hairs, and oil glands.
Pores – openings in the skin
Follicles – structures that produce strands of hair within the dermis

9. Caring for your skin
Three simple habits: eat healthy, keep your skin clean and dry, limit your exposure to the sun
Cancer – disease in which some cells divide uncontrollably