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THE VITAL FUNCTIONS
The skin covers the entire body with a protective surface; it is the largest and the most exposed bodily organ. The skin performs numerous vital functions: it regulates the body's temperature and serves the sensory functions of reacting to touch, heat, and cold.
The human skin is quite sensitive to external influences, such as heat and cold, pressure, and blows. Physical harm to the human body often starts with the skin, and most accidents begin with damage to this protective cover. Small wonder that the skin is also sensitive to harmful influences coming from within the organism, both physical and mental (Medausky, 1980).
The weight of the skin of an average-sized adult is between 6 and 7% pounds, and it has a surface area measuring approximately 2 square yards. The thickness of skin can vary from %2 of an inch to Vs of an inch. The composition of the skin includes numerous glands, nerves, skin cells (which are specialized), hair and hair follicles, and blood vessels (Katch & Katch, 1980).
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY