Question

Name and describe all the methods used by the skin to protect the body against pathogens.

Answer 1

The microbes which can cause diseases in humans are called as pathogens. The skin acts as a barrier to protect the body from entering of the pathogens to the body and hence the skin is called as first line of defense. The first line of defense don't fight against pathogens specifically, they fight similarly against each kind of pathogen.

The skin acts as a physical barrier against the pathogens, so when the skin get any cut or get damaged, it heals quickly by forming a scab and maintains the role of skin as a physical barrier and prevents the body from the entry of pathogens.

The skin has mucus glands which secrets mucus for trapping the bacteria like pathogens and prevents their entry to our body.

The skin also contains sweat gland and sebaceous gland. The sweat gland secrets sweat and sebaceous gland secrets an oily secretion known as sebum. Both of these helps in drying out of the skin surface. The sweat contains hydrolytic enzymes of the lysosomes which helps in killing of pathogens. Also the saturated and unsaturated fatty contents of the sebaceous gland helps preventing the growth of pathogens especially of the gram negative bacterias and protects the body from invading pathogens.