Skin+Cells+-+NA

=Introduction= toc Skin cells, or the epidermis, are just like a turtle shell. Turtle shells protect the turtle and keep danger out when the turtle goes into its shell. Skin cells shield your body from bumps, cuts, and bruises; and keeps threatening objects out. The whole body would not stay together if it did not have skin cells. Skin cells keep the good stuff in, and the bad stuff out. All the parts of a skin cell help the cell do its job. But, if anything disrupts those pieces of the puzzle, then the puzzle will not fit together and the picture, or function, is not complete. =Function of a Skin Cell= Have you ever woken up in the morning, and been tired, and don’t realize that you’re about to walk into something and hit yourself? Have you ever wondered why you didn’t start bleeding? Well, skin cells are what make up the skin, and they protect the human body. The epidermis, specifically, is the outside layer of skin and is made up of skin cells. Humans are made up of about 10 trillion cells total, and billions of those are skin cells. And millions of cells flake off each day (Glass). Those cells shelter internal organs from bumps, cuts, and bruises causing damage (“Skin”- Brainpop). Additionally, skin cells protect the body from harmful sun rays. Keeping fluids and organs in the body, means a healthy human. Lastly, the skin protects the body from germs entering the body and help fight disease (“Skin”). If you think about it the epidermis, is just like a plastic soda bottle. A plastic bottle keeps soda inside the bottle and keeps anything from touching the soda. No air or germs can get to it. And with skin, internal organs are kept inside and don’t “spill” out of the body. And just like the bottle, it shields internal parts away from germs, sun rays, and from cuts or minor wounds. But just like plastic bottles, skin cells are made up of certain things to help it do its job...but what are they? To learn more about skin, go to https://www.brainpop.com/health/bodysystems/skin/

=Structures of a Skin Cell= Just like plastic bottles, different components of skin cells help complete the job. One structure of skin cells is dead skin cells. Here’s how the life cycle starts: new cells start deep in the epidermis. Furthermore, they move up in the epidermis, with new developing cells under them. Eventually, when the cells finally reach the top layer after a time period of about two weeks, they die (Padilla et al 32). And when that’s all over, they shed off the body. Did you know that you shed millions of skin cells every day (Glass)? Another structure in skin cells is melanin, found in cells called melanocytes. Melanin is produced in the skin and it is what gives skin pigment(Padilla et al 32). The more melanin that is found in the skin, the darker the complexion of the person is. Besides that, there is keratin, found in keratinocytes. Keratin can help the skin protect the body from harmful things in the environment (Padilla et al 32). Keratin gives skin elasticity, strength, and waterproofness. Now, melanocytes infuse melanin, which can protect people from diseases like skin cancer and vitiligo, into melanosomes, seen in the diagram.

=
===== http://oerpub.github.io/epubjs-demo-book/content/m46060.xhtml- Visit this website, on the section on Pigmentation for more information =Diseases Associated with Skin Cells= There are diseases and affects that can associated with skin cells, with a cause. For instance, tumors may grow on skin resulting in skin cancer. Tumors may begin to grow from too much exposure to sunlight (“Skin”). Another example is Dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is a skin inflammation, usually caused by contact with certain chemicals. Atopic Dermatitis is, in other words, eczema. Eczema is more of a long-lasting rash than a disease. Some chemicals in soaps, dirt, and pollen can contribute to eczema (“Atopic Dermatitis: Skin Allergies”). Yet another example of a rash is Nodules. Nodule is papule, a raised pimple without pus, transforming into one big rash (“Skin”). But, the nodule is over five millimeters in diameter, how wide the object is when measured from the middle. Lastly, there is a disease called Vitiligo. Vitiligo is due to the destruction of melanin. When Vitiligo occurs, it is very noticeable because it leaves splotches of no pigment on the skin. The reason behind that is since melanin produces skin’s pigment, when destroyed, you lose that “color” in your skin. Visit - http://study.com/academy/lesson/atopic-dermatitis-skin-allergies.html- for more information on Atopic Dermatitis =Conclusion= Skin cells are the largest organ in the body, weighing approximately 8.5 pounds on an adult man (“Skin”). Yet, all of the parts of the skin contribute to the health state of the body. Although having multiple layers, all of them equally important. Although it may just seem like it’s just “skin”, it’s a heavily needed protection mechanism. =References= “Atopic Dermatitis: Skin Allergies.” Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/atopic-dermatitis-skin-allergies.html. Accessed 31 Jan. 2017. Coolidge-Stolz, Elizabeth, et al. Human Biology and Health. Boston, Pearson, 2009. Glass, Susan. Cells. Logan, Perfection Learning, 2005. Layers of the Skin. oerpub.github.io/epubjs-demo-book/content/m46060.xhtml. Accessed 2 Feb. 2017. Rutland, Sarah. “What Is Skin Made Of?” HowStuffWorks, health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/information/anatomy/what-is-skin-made-of.htm. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. Silver, Stephen Euric. “Skin.” Encyclopedia Americana. Scholastic Grolier Online, ea.grolier.com/article?id=0358860-00. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. “Skin.” World Book Kids. World Book, 2017. Web. 30 Jan. 2017. “Skin.” BrainPOP, www.brainpop.com/health/bodysystems/skin/. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017. “Skin.” PowerKnowledge, www.pklifescience.com/article/431?search=skin. Accessed 30 Jan. 2017.