Which is the Largest Sensory Organ?

The nose? Or the ears, perhaps? No, of course it is the skin. The skin is the largest sensory organ in humans! It is a waterproof, solid, padded layer that protects against influences such as heat, cold, sun and germs. A protective coat that needs sufficient care from the inside and outside!

Every person has his own skin pattern of arches, loops or swirls. The skin shows how old a person is, whether he feels well or is ill. With great anger one becomes red, with fright pale. Discoloration of the skin is usually a sign of illness.

The skin is an organ with several layers

  • The epidermis
  • The dermis
  • The subcutis

The epidermis, is about as thin as a sheet of paper. It protects the organism from injury, dehydration and from the penetration of pathogens. It consists of covering tissue, which clearly shows a structure in two layers: In the lower germ layer, new cells are continuously formed, which are pushed outward by subsequent cells into the horny layer, keratinize, die and exfoliate. In this way, our skin renews itself unnoticed about once a month.

The epidermis is interlocked with the thick dermis. In it lie muscles and fine blood vessels, numerous sensory organs, bulging glands that produce sweat. Other glands produce sebum and are located near the hair roots. Sebum lubricates the hair and skin and keeps the skin supple.

The hypodermis is the thickest of the three layers. It contains fatty tissue. This acts a cushion against pressure and impact. It also acts as a thermal insulator and reduces the body’s heat loss. In addition, this fat is a reserve of nutrients.

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 shock. On the other hand, it connects to the outside world through tiny sensory organs that provide sensations of pressure, pain, and temperature.