skin

(skin)

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The organ that forms the outer surface of the body. It shields the body against infection, dehydration, and temperature changes; provides sensory information about the environment; manufactures vitamin D; and excretes salts and small amounts of urea.
Skin consists of two major divisions: the epidermis and the dermis. Depending on its location and local function, skin varies in terms of its thickness, strength, presence of hair, nails, or glands, pigmentation, vascularity, nerve supply, and keratinization. Skin may be classified as thin and hairy or thick and hairless (glabrous). Thin hairy skin covers most of the body. Glabrous skin covers the surface of the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and flexor surfaces of the digits.
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STRUCTURE OF THE SKIN AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE ; SEE: hair for illus; SEE: burn; SEE: dermatitis; SEE: dermis; SEE: eczema; SEE: epidermis; SEE: rash


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