Question

learning: chapter 05: sections 8-9
question 1
which of the following are functions of the skin?
select all that apply
□ prevention of unnecessary water loss
□ excretion
□ respiratory gas exchange
□ protection
□ regulation of body temperature

Explanation:

• Prevention of unnecessary water loss: The skin (epidermis) acts as a barrier to prevent excessive water from evaporating from the body.
• Protection: The skin protects the body from physical (e.g., abrasion), chemical (e.g., harmful substances), and biological (e.g., pathogens) damage.
• Excretion: The skin excretes small amounts of waste products like urea and salts through sweat.
• Regulation of body temperature: Through sweating (cooling) and vasoconstriction/vasodilation of blood vessels in the dermis, the skin helps regulate body temperature.
• Respiratory gas exchange: The skin is not a major site for respiratory gas exchange (that is the function of the lungs), so this is not a function of the skin.

Answer:

• Prevention of unnecessary water loss (select this option)
• Protection (select this option)
• Excretion (select this option)
• Regulation of body temperature (select this option)
• Respiratory gas exchange (do not select this option)