Skin
Skin is the soft outer covering of vertebrates. Other animal coverings such as the arthropod exoskeleton have different developmental origin, structure and chemical composition. The adjective cutaneous means "of the skin" (from Latin cutis, skin). In mammals, the skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of ectodermal tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and internal organs. Skin of a different nature exists in amphibians, reptiles, and birds. All mammals have some hair on their skin, even marine mammals which appear to be hairless. The skin is one of the most important parts of the body because it interfaces with the environment and is the first line of defense from external factors. For example, the skin plays a key role in protecting the body against pathogens and excessive water loss. Its other functions are insulation, temperature regulation, sensation, and the production of vitamin D folates. Severely damaged skin may heal by forming scar tissue. This is sometimes discoloured and depigmented. The thickness of skin also varies from location to location on an organism. In humans for example, the skin located under the eyes and around the eyelids is the thinnest skin in the body at 0.5 mm thick, and is one of the first areas to show signs of aging such as "crows feet" and wrinkles. The skin on the palms and the soles of the feet is 4 mm thick and the thickest skin in the body.
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Some articles on skin:
... of dead tissue that is cast off from the surface of the skin, particularly after a burn injury, but also seen in gangrene, ulcer, fungal infections ... if a skin graft is to be conducted) ... were traditionally used in herbal medicine as topical treatments for localised skin cancers and can be effective in some cases, but often cause scarring and can potentially cause ...
... In computing, a skin is a custom graphical appearance achieved by the use of a graphical user interface (GUI) that can be applied to specific software ... A skin may be associated with themes ... Software that is capable of having a skin applied is referred to as being skinnable, and the process of writing or applying such a skin is known as skinning ...
... Look up skin in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
... end." At the same time, the tiny muscles that are contracting are causing a "bunching" of the skin surrounding the hairs, which results in the "bumps" in goosebumps ... This is the body's way of preserving its own heat by causing the hairs on the skin to stand up, thus reducing heat loss ... As the perspiration accumulates on the skin, it naturally evaporates ...
... Since the skin reaction is an allergic one, people may develop progressively stronger reactions after repeated exposures, or show no immune response on their first exposure, but show ... a trace of urushiol (two micrograms or less than one ten-millionth of an ounce) on the skin to initiate an allergic reaction (Epstein et al ... Severe cases will have small (1–2 mm) clear fluid-filled blisters on the skin ...
More definitions of "skin":
- (verb): Climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling.
Synonyms: clamber, scramble, shin, shinny, struggle, sputter
- (noun): A natural protective covering of the body; site of the sense of touch.
Example: "Your skin is the largest organ of your body"
Synonyms: tegument, cutis
- (noun): An outer surface (usually thin).
Example: "The skin of an airplane"
- (noun): A person's skin regarded as their life.
Example: "He tried to save his skin"
- (verb): Remove the bark of a tree.
Synonyms: bark
- (noun): A bag serving as a container for liquids; it is made from the skin of an animal.
- (verb): Bruise, cut, or injure the skin or the surface of.
Synonyms: scrape
Famous quotes containing the word skin:
“Behind you swiftly the figure comes softly,
The spot on your skin is a shocking disease.’”
—W.H. (Wystan Hugh)
“... the trouble is that most people in this country think that we can stay out of wars in other parts of the world. Even if we stay out of it and save our own skins, we cannot escape the conditions which will undoubtedly exist in other parts of the world and which will react against us.... We are all of us selfish ... and if we can save our own skins, the rest of the world can go. The best we can do is to realize nobody can save his own skin alone. We must all hang together.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962)