Basic physiology of the skin

This article aims to increase the knowledge of the surgical trainee of both the anatomy and the physiological functions of the skin. The skin is often classified as the largest organ of the body and it is one that all surgeons will operate on or through. It is therefore vital that the surgeon understands the layers of the skin and the structures that are found within these layers. The skin can be injured in a number of situations including burns. It is important to understand how these injuries can affect the physiological function of the skin, for example with fluid loss. The skin has interesting biomechanical properties and demonstrates anisotropy, which are important concepts to understand especially in relation to siting of incisions. Finally, by having a thorough understanding of the skin the surgeon will be able to understand how disease processes affect the different components of the skin.