• The epidermis is the top layer of the skin. It is the layer that we see. In the epidermis, melanin is made.
  Parts found in the epidermis include:
  • Pores, which are microscopic holes in the skin where sweat comes out of the body
  • Hair exits through the epidermis and starts in the dermis
• The dermis is the middle layer of the skin. It is the thickest of the three layers, even though it would look small to you and me. Many important things happen in this layer. The root of your hair begins here. Also, there are two glands in this layer.
  Parts found in the epidermis include:
  • Heat and cold receptors sense the temperature and react (for instance, sweating when hot and pulling hair up (goose bumps) when it is cold)
  • Sebaceous glands produce sebum, which gives hair (including body hair) a soft feel.
  • Arrector pili muscles pull on body hair to cause it to stick up producing "goose bumps."
  • Sweat glands produce sweat to cool you off. It is not actually the sweat that cools you off- the evaporation of the sweat takes body heat away from your skin, causing you to cool down.
• The subcutaneous layer is the bottom layer of your skin. It is mostly made up of fat cells. It is also the hardest to pronounce!
  Parts found in the epidermis include:
  • Nerves, which tell the brain when you touch something
  • Fat cells

This diagram shows the locations of the parts of the skin as described above. The epidermis and dermis are actually less than a quarter inch (around half a centemeter).