BRAINCAKEThe Skin
The skin is the main organ through which a mammal exchanges heat with its surroundings, so many thermoregulatory effectors are found there.
The skin has two layers above a layer of fat:
• The epidermis is the thin outer layer. Its surface is made of dead, keratinised cells that are waterproof and protect against infection.
• The dermis is the thicker inner layer. It contains blood vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles, nerve endings and thermoreceptors.
• Below this is the subcutaneous fat (adipose tissue), which insulates the body and stores energy.
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Key terms in this lesson
- epidermis
- The thin, outer layer of the skin, made of waterproof, keratinised dead cells.
- dermis
- The thicker inner layer of skin, containing blood vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles and thermoreceptors.
- adipose tissue
- Fat-storing tissue beneath the dermis that insulates the body and stores energy.
- hair follicle
- The structure in the dermis from which a hair grows, attached to a hair erector muscle.
- arteriovenous shunt
- A vessel linking an arteriole directly to a venule, allowing blood to bypass the surface capillaries.
More in Homeostasis
- Control of Body Temperature
- Endotherms
- Ectotherms
- Thermoregulation in Endotherms
- Keeping Cool
- Keeping Warm
- Control of Core Body Temperature
- Vasodilation
All 41 lessons in Homeostasis · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics