Skin care is a common concern, which influences
health beyond aesthetics
.
But many times people do not know or confuse terms, and it is good to clarify, for example,
what faneras are and their function.
"The skin is the largest organ of the body. It and its derivatives (hair, nails, sweat and sebaceous glands) make up the intergumentary system," defines
Medline Plus
, the National Library of Medicine of the United States.
And he adds that one of the main functions of the skin is to protect the body from external factors such as
bacteria, chemicals and temperature.
In turn, it is known that the skin is made up of tissues of embryological origin and different tissue structures: the
epidermis
and the
dermis
(cutis).
Although an article from the Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Mexico states that for some authors the
epidermis
(or subcutaneous layer) should also make up this organ).
But beyond each of the parts, what are considered
annexes to the skin appear.
What are faneras
The
phantoms are complementary and visible structures on the skin
or that protrude from it, dermatologists define.
Hair, hair or hair fulfills the function of protection.
They are nails
, hair and sweat glands in humans,
as well as feathers, hooves, scales and horns in other animals.
In this way, the phaneras, together with the skin, constitute what is known as
the integumentary system.
The faneras are composed in a high percentage of the protein called
keratin
, they explain on
Wikipedia.
This substance, they add, is very rich in sulfur and constitutes the main component of the outermost layers of the epidermis of vertebrates and of the phanerae, organs derived from the ectoderm.
What are the functions of the faneras?
The hairs, nails, sweat glands and sebaceous glands, the so-called phaneras or skin annexes, are also part of the integumentary system, along with the skin.
That is why in each case it is worth specifying its function, which many do not take into account or underestimate.
The glands are visible structures on the skin, such as nails, hair and even sweat glands.
HAIR OR HAIR.
Composed of keratinized epithelial cells, human hair or body hair comprises the hair shaft and a soft, thick bulb fixed to the skin.
The root ends in the hair bulb and this is located in a sac-shaped hole known as a follicle, from which the hair grows.
The key role of hair is to
keep us warm
.
A large amount of heat is lost through the head.
Regarding the hair of the nose and ears and eyelashes,
it protects us from dust and other tiny particles.
NAILS.
Beyond the aesthetic, they protect the hands and feet from possible external injuries and help to pick up small objects.
Nails protect the hands and feet from external injuries.
The formation process is similar to that of hair.
The epidermal cells that are located under the root of the nail move towards the surface of the skin.
Each cell becomes a
thin plate
and these group together to form nails.
In children they are flexible and smooth, while adults have harder ones.
Furthermore, over the years they lose shine and become brittle.
SEBACEOUS GLANDS.
They are associated with the hair follicles of the body.
Just as hair does not grow on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, they do not have sebaceous glands, they explain in the
Health
section of
El Mundo
de España.
However, there are numerous and large ones found on the face and scalp.
The sebum they produce makes our skin have a kind of
oil that protects it.
Perspiration.
The function of sweat glands when it is very hot.
Photo: Thinkstockphotos
SWEAT GLANDS.
They regulate body temperature.
For example, if it is very hot, both apocrine and eccrine cells immediately produce sweat.
Apocrines usually star in the stage of puberty, when
sexual hormones
experience an imbalance.
While the eccrines, in addition, usually
respond to fear and nerves.