What is the largest sense organ?
The nose? Or maybe the ears? No, of course it’s the skin. The skin is the largest sensory organ in humans! It is a waterproof, solid, padded layer that protects against the effects of heat, cold, sun and germs. A protective coat that needs sufficient care inside and out!
Each person has their own skin pattern of arches, loops, or whorls. The skin shows how old a person is, whether they feel well or are sick. When you are angry you turn red, when you are frightened you turn pale. Discoloration of the skin is usually a sign of disease.
The skin is an organ with several layers
- the epidermis
- the dermis
- the hypodermis
The epidermis is about as thin as a sheet of paper. It protects the organism from injuries, dehydration and the penetration of pathogens. It consists of cover tissue, which clearly shows a structure in two layers: In the lower germ layer, new cells are continuously being formed, which are pushed outwards into the horny layer by subsequent cells, where they become horny, die off and desquamate. In this way, our skin renews itself unnoticed about once a month.
The epidermis is interlocked with the thick dermis . It contains muscles and fine blood vessels, numerous sensory organs, and tangled glands that produce sweat  . Other glands make sebum and are located near the roots of the hair. The sebum lubricates the hair and skin and keeps the skin supple.
The hypodermis is the thickest of the three layers. It contains fat tissue. This acts as a cushion against pressure and impact. It also serves as thermal insulation and reduces heat loss from the body. In addition, this fat is a nutrient reserve.
The skin has a dual role
On the one hand, it acts as a protective cover for the body, protects against dehydration, cooling and penetration of bacteria, absorbs pressure and impact. On the other hand, it establishes the connection to the outside world through tiny sensory organs that convey pressure, pain and temperature sensations.