Skin
hideThe skin is the outer covering of the body. In humans, it is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of mesodermal tissues, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and internal organs. Skin of a different nature exists in amphibians, reptiles, birds. Human skin is not unlike that of most other mammals except that it is not protected by a pelt and appears hairless though in fact nearly all human skin is covered with hair follicles. The adjective cutaneous literally means "of the skin" (from Latin cutis, skin).
Because it interfaces with the environment, skin plays a key role in protecting (the body) against pathogens and excessive water loss. Its other functions are insulation, temperature regulation, sensation, synthesis of vitamin D, and the protection of vitamin B folates. Severely damaged skin will try to heal by forming scar tissue. This is often discolored and depigmented.
In humans, skin pigmentation varies among populations, and skin type can range from dry to oily. Such skin variety provides a rich and diverse habit for bacteria which number roughly a 1000 species from 19 phyla.
For more information about Skin, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with skin
New simulation shows consequences of a world without Earth's natural sunscreen (w/Video)
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Mar 19, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The year is 2065. Nearly two-thirds of Earth's ozone is gone -- not just over the poles, but everywhere. The infamous ozone hole over Antarctica, first discovered in the 1980s, is a year-round ...
Researchers make stem cell breakthrough
Mar 01, 2009 |
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In a study to be released on March 1, 2009, Mount Sinai Hospital's Dr. Andras Nagy discovered a new method of creating stem cells that could lead to possible cures for devastating diseases including spinal ...
Team reports major step forward in cell reprogramming
Oct 08, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) researchers has made a major advance toward producing induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, that are safe enough to use in treating diseases ...
Mummified dinosaur skin yields up new secrets
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Jul 01, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (18) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists from The University of Manchester have identified preserved organic molecules in the skin of a dinosaur that died around 66-million years ago.
Researchers finds hidden sensory system in the skin
Dec 08, 2009 |
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Researchers report that the human body has an entirely unique and separate sensory system aside from the nerves that give most of us the ability to touch and feel. Surprisingly, this sensory network is located throughout ...
Stem cell breakthrough gets closer to the clinic
May 28, 2009 |
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The technology for versatile, grow-in-a-dish transplant tissue took a step toward clinical use Thursday when researchers announced they have found a safe way to turn skin cells into stem cells.
100 reasons to change the way we think about genetics
May 18, 2009 |
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For years, genes have been considered the one and only way biological traits could be passed down through generations of organisms. Not anymore.
Study: Tanning beds definitely cause cancer
Jul 28, 2009 |
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(AP) -- International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category, deeming both to be as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas. For years, scientists have ...
World first: Japanese scientists create transgenic monkeys
May 27, 2009 |
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In a controversial achievement, Japanese scientists announced on Wednesday they had created the world's first transgenic primates, breeding monkeys with a gene that made the animals' skin glow a fluorescent ...
Chameleon-like camouflage: 'Nano-camo' for fashionistas and environmentalists
Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials
Apr 17, 2009 |
4 / 5 (10) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Certain fish species blend with their environment by changing color. Sandia National Laboratories researchers have demonstrated that, in theory, they could cause synthetic materials to change ...
Study finds unexpected bacterial diversity on human skin
May 28, 2009 |
5 / 5 (8) |
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The health of our skin -- one of the body's first lines of defense against illness and injury — depends upon the delicate balance between our own cells and the millions of bacteria and other one-celled microbes ...
Surface bacteria maintain skin's healthy balance
Nov 22, 2009 |
5 / 5 (8) |
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On the skin's surface, bacteria are abundant, diverse and constant, but inflammation is undesirable. Research at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine now shows that the normal bacteria living on the ...
Whiter laundry and a surprising new treatment for kids' eczema
Apr 27, 2009 |
4.9 / 5 (8) |
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It's best known for whitening a load of laundry. But now simple household bleach has a surprising new role: an effective treatment for kids' chronic eczema.
New silver nanoparticle skin gel for healing burns
Nanotechnology / Bio & Medicine
Jul 22, 2009 |
4.9 / 5 (8) |
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Scientists in India are reporting successful laboratory tests of a new and potentially safer alternative to silver-based gels applied to the skin of burn patients to treat infections. With names like silver ...
How Flip-Flops, Baseball Caps Can Raise Your Skin Cancer Risk
May 21, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Cheap, convenient and casual, baseball caps and flip-flops have acquired a trendy charm. Those qualities have made them must-wear accessories for teens, outdoor enthusiasts, gardeners or anyone trying to ...
