No, the skin is the largest organ in the body. The skin of an average person makes up just under a fifth of their body weight.
Skin is a tough wrapping that covers most of the body. It protects the inside of the body against knocks and bumps. It stops us drying out in the Sun and it stops water getting inside us when we have a bath or get caught in the rain.
The skin is quite thin but it contains many different structures. It has sweat glands that produce sweat and sebaceous glands that produce oil. The skin on most parts of the body contains small hairs. The only skin that doesn't is that on the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet.
One of the most important roles of the skin is to keep the temperature of the body at the right level. When it is hot, sweat glands in the skin release salty water onto the surface. This evaporates to cool us down. If it is cold the tiny hairs in the skin stand up and we get goose pimples. These trap a thin layer of air that stops the body losing heat.
Skin is a tough wrapping that covers most of the body. It protects the inside of the body against knocks and bumps. It stops us drying out in the Sun and it stops water getting inside us when we have a bath or get caught in the rain.
The skin is quite thin but it contains many different structures. It has sweat glands that produce sweat and sebaceous glands that produce oil. The skin on most parts of the body contains small hairs. The only skin that doesn't is that on the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet.
One of the most important roles of the skin is to keep the temperature of the body at the right level. When it is hot, sweat glands in the skin release salty water onto the surface. This evaporates to cool us down. If it is cold the tiny hairs in the skin stand up and we get goose pimples. These trap a thin layer of air that stops the body losing heat.
