doctor's notes Claudio Italiano
The skin is the shell of our body. It acts as a means of protection and
communication and interaction with the outside world. Many people need to get
more injections through their skin every day to stay healthy; we are talking, of
course, of diabetic patients in insulin therapy. At each injection, they must
penetrate their skin, to overcome the barrier it represents and reach the
subcutaneous tissue where the insulin is released and acts. However, when
practicing insulin injections, you run the risk of going lower, passing the
subcutaneous tissue with the needle, to reach the muscle tissue and in this case
the absorption of insulin will be accelerated with the risk of hypoglycemic
crisis.
In fact, the blood flow differs a lot from one layer of the skin to the other:
-In the dermis, it is not very abundant and variable.
-In the subcutis, however, it is slow and stable and this is the privileged area
for insulin injections.
-In the muscle, however, the flow is abundant, rapid and very variable; it is
the optimal area in which to inject, for example, adrenaline in case of an acute
allergy.
It is a barrier against invaders and hostile objects that could injure us, burn
(cf burns) or freeze our bodies. Our skin is sturdy and resistant while
remaining flexible and elastic. It expels heat when the temperature is too high
and isolates us from the cold; warns us of external threats through its very
sensitive nerve endings and hair. Moreover, at the skin level, vitamin D is
activated (cfr calcio_vitamina D)
Protecting acts as a barrier against traumas of various kinds through the
elastic fibers contained in the collagen.
-Thermoregular, in fact in relation to the environmental temperature, the
organism is able to regulate the capacity of the capillaries, in the sense that
it can decrease or increase and the skin, so, retains or disperses the heat,
increases or decreases the quantity of sweat.
- Feeling the stimuli through the receptors the pressure, thermal, pain stimuli;
for example, pressure receptors are sensitive.
-Defend works as a barrier against chemical, bacterial or viral agents opposing
their penetration with chemical defenses (eg pH), immunological and / or
mechanical (sebum, sweating).
-Secret and synthesize eliminates waste and catabolites, synthesizes vitamin D.
- Representing the body image. it has an important function in our social
relationships, because it represents the part of us that connects us with others.
- Act as a melan screen, ie the melanin content reacts to U.V. with the
synthesis of melanin that defends us from the harmful effects of the same.
The skin consists of 3 main layers:
I'epidermis;
the dermis;
the subcutaneous tissue
The epidermis is the most external and superficial part of the skin. It consists
of cells called keratinocytes, which are arranged one above the other in
different sub-layers. The keratinocytes develop in the lower layer and then rise
to the surface, where they are eliminated as dead cells. So, this layer is
constantly renewed: the new cells support those deaths now inactive. Each layer
has its specific structure and its specific function. The dermis consists mainly
of connective tissue. It is responsible for skin flexibility and is involved in
regulating body temperature. The dermis supplies the epidermis of nutrients
through the vascular network. Contains sense organs for touch, pressure, pain
and regulates body temperature. The dermis supplies the epidermis of nutrients
by the vascular network and contains the sebaceous glands and hair follicles.
Subcutaneous tissue (or subcutaneous tissue) forms the deepest part of the skin.
It consists essentially of adipose tissue. Its functions are multiple:
- to cover the bone structure;
- absorb shock (it is the case of the buttocks, when you start
walk on two feet);
- fix the epidermis and the dermis to the deepest structure of the body (bones
and muscles);
- adjust the temperature changes;
- isolate the body when heat loss is a threat;
- cool the body when the heat becomes excessive and dangerous.
Thickness
of the dermis and epidermis.
The epidermis has 5 thin layers and the dermis has 2, but the layers that
determine the thickness are mainly 4:
the stratum corneum (epidermis);
the granular layer (epidermis);
the papillary dermis (dermis);
the reticular dermis (dermis).
The epidermis is the most external and superficial part of the skin. It consists of cells called keratinocytes, which are arranged one above the other in different sub-layers. The keratinocytes develop in the lower layer and then rise to the surface, where they are eliminated as dead cells. So, this layer is constantly renewed: the new cells support those deaths now inactive. Each layer has its specific structure and its specific function. The dermis consists mainly of connective tissue. It is responsible for skin flexibility and is involved in regulating body temperature. The dermis supplies the epidermis of nutrients through the vascular network. Contains sense organs for touch, pressure, pain and regulates body temperature. The dermis supplies the epidermis of nutrients by the vascular network and contains the sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Subcutaneous tissue (or subcutaneous tissue) forms the deepest part of the skin.
It consists essentially of adipose tissue. Its functions are multiple:
- to cover the bone structure;
- absorb shock (it is the case of the buttocks, when you start
walk on two feet);
- fix the epidermis and the dermis to the deepest structure of the body (bones
and muscles);
- adjust the temperature changes;
- isolate the body when heat loss is a threat;
- cool the body when the heat becomes excessive and dangerous.
What is the thickness of the skin?
Thickness of the dermis and epidermis.
The epidermis has 5 thin layers and the dermis has 2, but the layers that
determine the thickness are mainly 4:
the stratum corneum (epidermis);
the granular layer (epidermis);
the papillary dermis (dermis);
the reticular dermis (dermis).