Find clinic locations for Fort HealthCare and affiliated clinics and services in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.
Find services offered by Fort HealthCare and affiliated clinics in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.
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We coordinate community education and health-related events and screenings for the Fort HealthCare service area.
The skin is the body's largest organ. It covers the entire body. It serves as a protective shield against heat, light, injury, and infection. The skin also:
Regulates body temperature.
Stores water and fat.
Is a sensory organ.
Prevents water loss.
Prevents entry of bacteria.
Acts as a barrier between the body and its environment.
Helps to make vitamin D when exposed to the sun.
Your skin takes on different thickness, color, and texture all over your body. For example, your head contains more hair follicles than anywhere else. But the soles of your feet have none. And the soles of your feet and the palms of your hands are much thicker than skin on other areas of your body.
The skin is made up of three layers, called the:
Epidermis.
Dermis.
Subcutaneous fat layer (hypodermis).
Each layer has certain functions.
Layer
What it does
Epidermis
The epidermis is the thin outer layer of the skin. It consists of two primary types of cells:
Keratinocytes. These cells make up about 90% of the epidermis and are responsible for its structure and barrier functions.
Melanocytes. These cells are found at the base of the epidermis and make melanin. This gives the skin its color.
Dermis
The dermis is the middle layer of the skin. The dermis contains:
Blood vessels.
Lymph vessels.
Hair follicles.
Sweat glands.
Collagen bundles.
Fibroblasts.
Nerves (pain, touch, and temperature receptors).
Sebaceous glands.
The dermis is held together by a protein called collagen. This layer gives skin flexibility and strength.
Subcutaneous fat layer
The subcutaneous fat layer is the deepest layer of skin. It's made of a network of collagen and fat cells. It helps conserve the body's heat and protects the body from injury by acting as a shock absorber.