16.14 System: the skin  
     
  The skin, which is sometimes called the integumentary system, is the largest organ of the body. If the skin of a 68-kilogram person was spread out flat, it would cover about 2 square metres. Skin has three layers: (1) the epidermis, (2) the dermis, and (3) the subcutaneous tissues.  
  The epidermis forms the outermost layer of the skin. It serves as a barrier between the outside world and the inner tissues of the body. The outer portion of the epidermis consists of tough, dead cells that prevent bacteria, chemicals, and other harmful substances from entering the body. It also protects the body's inner tissues from the harsh rays of the sun and prevents the loss of water from these tissues.  
  The dermis is the middle layer of the skin. The dermis helps keep the temperature of the body within its normal range. The body produces tremendous amounts of heat as it uses food. Some of this heat escapes from the body through the blood vessels in the dermis. When the body needs to retain heat, these blood vessels narrow and so limit heat loss. When the body needs to give off heat, the blood vessels in the dermis expand and so increase heat loss. The sweat glands, which are part of the epidermis, also help control body temperature. These glands produce sweat, which is released through pores on the skin surface. As the sweat evaporates from the surface, it cools the body.  
  The dermis also serves as an important sense organ. Nerve endings within the dermis respond to cold, heat, pain, pressure, and touch.  
  Subcutaneous tissues form the innermost layer of the skin. This layer provides extra fuel for the body. The fuel is stored in fat cells. The subcutaneous layer also helps retain body heat, and it cushions the inner tissues against blows to the body.  
16.14.1 Skin- the forgotten system for supporting cell growth  
  Science has typically seen fuel intake through two main systems, the respiratory system and the digestive system. There is a third, that for some reason has been left out in terms of behaving like a fuel intake as well as a sensory system- the skin.  
  The skin and surface vein network in fact is one of the most efficient methods of fuel intake. If it wasn't, then paramedics could not administer intra venous fed drips of saline to help stem blood loss. You couldn't penetrate it!  
  All three systems provide specific building materials and information for cell replication. The lungs not only intakes oxygen, essential for blood and for tissue growth, the lungs also intake other nutrients by way of Nitrogen and even Carbon.  
  The digestive system is responsible for gathering the more complex components for bodily function, the heavy elements. It is also responsible for generating the largest catalysts in the body for chemical recomposition.  
  We then have the skin as a place for absorbing smaller catalysts for healthy cell growth via the creation of vitamins . This is why humans that have no access to sun normally have less than average levels of Vitamin D, reflected in the vitality of surface cells and an important part of developing an effective immune system.  
  A proof of the skins absorption of outer side molecules on its surface is poisons through the skin. That this occurs every day across the world (thousands of people who get sick because of something poisonous on their skin) is proof that part of the skins job is to absorb certain structures. Further proof is that all humans have skin pigment. Pigments primary purpose is to react with something - to do something. The basic existence of pigments in almost all humans is further proof of the forgotten purpose of skin.  
  The behaviour of our skin is a living reminder to our common ancestry to all higher organized Hydro-Carbon Biologics- the behaviour of cell walls as entry points and source points for food. Our skin is our oldest biological method as a living organism of acquiring food!  
 

 

  
 
<<Back       Continue>>
 

Copyright © 2010 UCADIA. All rights reserved.