The Human Skin
1. Examine the skin surface of the palm of your hand with the hand lens.
a) Describe the magnified appearance of the ridges and furrows present.
b) Place a ruler across the ridges and count the number of ridges present in 1cm.
2. Examine the back of your hand with the hand lens.
a) Describe what you see. Are there any regular patterns there?
b) Is the skin on the back of your hand firmly attached to the underlying tissues, or can it be lifted away?
c) How does this compare with the attachment of the skin on the palm of your hand? Why would this be different?
3. Look closely at the ridges on your fingertips and on the palm of your hand with the hand lens. Rock your finger back and forth or vary the position of the light to look for beads of perspiration.
a) Can you see the openings of the sweat glands?
b) Describe the appearance and exact location of the sweat glands.
c) Where does the skin appear to be thickest? Where is it thinnest?
d) Why does the skin vary in thickness?
e) In your experience, do small cuts on the surface of the thick pads on the palms of the hands draw blood or cause pain? Explain your answer.
4. Examine any cuts or scars that may be present on your skin.
a) Describe the appearance of these features.
5. If your skin is dry, you may find scaly patches on the surface of the skin. Examine this tissue with the hand lens.
a) Describe the appearance of a dry patch.
6. On the back of your hand and fingers, you will find other features like fine hairs, freckles, fingernails and the cuticle. Using the hand lens, examine these carefully.
a) Describe the area immediately around the hair including the hair root and the angle at which the hair leaves the skin.
b) How do blondes differ from brunettes?
c) Describe any other features you can see including fingernails, the cuticle, split ends, a bruise or a freckle.
The Human Skin
1. Examine the skin surface of the palm of your hand with the hand lens.
a) Describe the magnified appearance of the ridges and furrows present.
b) Place a ruler across the ridges and count the number of ridges present in 1cm.
2. Examine the back of your hand with the hand lens.
d) Describe what you see. Are there any regular patterns there?
e) Is the skin on the back of your hand firmly attached to the underlying tissues, or can it be lifted away?
f) How does this compare with the attachment of the skin on the palm of your hand? Why would this be different?
3. Look closely at the ridges on your fingertips and on the palm of your hand with the hand lens. Rock your finger back and forth or vary the position of the light to look for beads of perspiration.
a) Can you see the openings of the sweat glands?
b) Describe the appearance and exact location of the sweat glands.
c) Where does the skin appear to be thickest? Where is it thinnest?
d) Why does the skin vary in thickness?
e) In your experience, do small cuts on the surface of the thick pads on the palms of the hands draw blood or cause pain? Explain your answer.
4. Examine any cuts or scars that may be present on your skin.
a) Describe the appearance of these features.
5. If your skin is dry, you may find scaly patches on the surface of the skin. Examine this tissue with the hand lens.
a) Describe the appearance of a dry patch.
6. On the back of your hand and fingers, you will find other features like fine hairs, freckles, fingernails and the cuticle. Using the hand lens, examine these carefully.
a) Describe the area immediately around the hair including the hair root and the angle at which the hair leaves the skin.
b) How do blondes differ from brunettes?
c) Describe any other features you can see including fingernails, the cuticle, split ends, a bruise or a freckle.