Only skin deep

Brown University professors Montagna and Chase explain how the skin is a human organ forming a dead covering over the body and compare it to the outer covers of a live pheasant and a mouse. Skin's measurement is about 2.5 square yards and its weight 15-20 pounds. Dr. Montagna demonstrates the thickness of skin in human palms and soles by pricking a callus with a needle. The professors show a microscopic view of human skin and discuss each of skin's layers in a labelled cross-section diagram: epidermis, dermis, and adipose or fat layer. They also give the facts about hair growth and dispel the myths about it. Hairless mice of varying ages reveal how elasticity of skin changes. Lastly, the professors address the sweat and sebaceous or oil glands of the skin and show a diagram of how acne develops.