MODULE 1 – Week 2 Skin Structure & Function / Burn Pathophysiology

The integument comprises the skin together with its appendages (Figures 1 & 2). These include hair and hair follicles, sebaceous and sweat glands, and nails. The skin covers the entire body and is the largest organ of the body. It covers a surface area of more than 1.7 m making up in total about 16% of normal body weight. It has an array of functions. These include acting as a barrier to physical, biological and chemical agents, as well as to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Skin barrier function also acts to prevent dehydration by controlling loss and gain of fluid. Other functions include sensory and thermoregulatory roles, vitamin D synthesis, immune surveillance, excretion of wastes through sweat glands, sociosexual communication and reproduction, by virtue of its appearance and smell (e.g. hormones and pheromones).