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Structure and Function of The Skin

»	Name the three layers of the skin. What composes them?
»	How many layers are there in the epidermis? How are they organized?
»	Do other types of cells normally occur in the epidermis?
»	What is apocopation?
»	Describe the structure of the basement membrane zone (BMZ).
»	How is the structure of the epidermis related to its functions?
»	What structural components of the epidermis are involved in blistering diseases?
»	Are there hereditary diseases of the BMZ and dermis that cause blistering and damage to the skin?
»	Are there acquired blistering diseases of the BMZ and dermis?
»	What abnormalities in structural components of the basement membrane are involved in bullous skin diseases?
»	What is the function of the sebaceous gland?
»	How do the eccrine sweat glands and apocrine sweat glands differ?
»	How is the dermis organized?
»	What are the components of the dermis?
»	What are the functions of the dermis?
»	Which structural component of the dermis is involved in congenital and autoimmune skin diseases?
»	How does the vasculature of the dermis function in temperature control?
»	How is the skin innervated?
»	Name the two main corpuscular (encapsulated) nerve receptors found in the skin.
»	Is loss of cutaneous sensation very serious?
»	How is the subcutis organized?

What is the function of the sebaceous gland?

The sebaceous gland is a holocrine gland that is a part of the pilosebaceous unit. Its function is to produce sebum, which is a combination of wax esters, squalene, cholesterol esters, and triglycerides. Sebum is secreted through the sebaceous duct into the hair follicle, where it covers the skin surface, possibly as a protectant. Sebum may also have antifungal properties. Sebaceous glands are located everywhere on the skin except the palms and soles.