Anatomy of the Skin

The skin is the largest organ of your body. Skin protects you from heat, sunlight, injury, and infection. It helps keep your body warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Skin also stores water and fat, and produces vitamin D. The skin has several layers.

• The outer layer, called the epidermis

• The middle layer, called the dermis

• The inner layer, called the subcutis or hypodermis

Like the rest of the body, the skin is also made up of cells. The epidermis layer has 3 main groups of cells.

• Squamous cells form the top, protective layer. These cells are thin and flat.

• Basal cells are found under the squamous cells. These cells are round.

• Melanin-producing cells are in the deepest part of the epidermis. These cells make pigment called melanin to darken the skin in response to sun exposure.