Structure and Function of the Skin

Abstract

Knowledge of the structure and function of skin is an essential prerequisite to understanding the aetiology and manifestations of skin diseases and their treatment. This chapter provides an outline of skin development and the formation and maintenance of its key structures integrated within the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous fat. The text also describes the multiplicity and complexity of all cellular and structural components of skin and their roles in homeostasis and the origins of skin diseases, as well as describing the key functions of healthy skin.