Skin is the largest organ of your body. It has three layers; the epidermis (the top layer), the dermis (middle layer), and the fatty layer (bottom layer).
Epidermis: The epidermis contains mainly two kinds of cells; connective tissue, and epidermal cells. The epidermis that you can see (most of the time) is the top (dead) layer of the epidermis, which is made of dead epidermal cells, connected by connective tissue, to provide a tough outer-coating. The layer below that is called the living layer, because skin cells in this layer are alive. They are created through mitosis, and are pushed up by new cells. As the cells get farther away from the bottom of the living layer, they die. They then move up through the dead layer until they reach the surface. They then fall off the skin, only to be replaced by more skin cells. It takes an epidermal cell approximately 3-4 weeks.
Dermis: The dermis contains many cells. It contains many glands, including the sweat (which cools of the body) and the oil gland (lubricates the skin, especially found near the nose), nerve receptors, blood vessels, hair, smooth muscle, and connective tissue. The tissues in the dermis serve many purposes. The nerve receptors sense for heat, pain, pressure, and texture. The blood vessels bring oxygen and glucose and take away carbon dioxide. The hair is connected to a smooth muscle fiber that, when activated, causes the hair to stand up. The connective tissue connects the fatty layer, the dermis, and the epidermis together, to keep the skin from moving.
Fatty Layer: The fatty layer contains fat, connective tissue, and blood vessels. The fat provides cushioning, and the connective tissue holds the three layers of skin together, and attaches it to the body, so that the skin does not shift around. The blood vessels provide glucose and oxygen to the skin, and takes away carbon dioxide.
Skin is the largest organ of your body. It has three layers; the epidermis (the top layer), the dermis (middle layer), and the fatty layer (bottom layer).
Epidermis:
The epidermis contains mainly two kinds of cells; connective tissue, and epidermal cells. The epidermis that you can see (most of the time) is the top (dead) layer of the epidermis, which is made of dead epidermal cells, connected by connective tissue, to provide a tough outer-coating.
The layer below that is called the living layer, because skin cells in this layer are alive. They are created through mitosis, and are pushed up by new cells. As the cells get farther away from the bottom of the living layer, they die. They then move up through the dead layer until they reach the surface. They then fall off the skin, only to be replaced by more skin cells. It takes an epidermal cell approximately 3-4 weeks.
Dermis:
The dermis contains many cells. It contains many glands, including the sweat (which cools of the body) and the oil gland (lubricates the skin, especially found near the nose), nerve receptors, blood vessels, hair, smooth muscle, and connective tissue.
The tissues in the dermis serve many purposes. The nerve receptors sense for heat, pain, pressure, and texture. The blood vessels bring oxygen and glucose and take away carbon dioxide. The hair is connected to a smooth muscle fiber that, when activated, causes the hair to stand up. The connective tissue connects the fatty layer, the dermis, and the epidermis together, to keep the skin from moving.
Fatty Layer:
The fatty layer contains fat, connective tissue, and blood vessels. The fat provides cushioning, and the connective tissue holds the three layers of skin together, and attaches it to the body, so that the skin does not shift around. The blood vessels provide glucose and oxygen to the skin, and takes away carbon dioxide.