Question

What are the defence mechanisms provided by our skin?

Answer 1

• Our skin is known as the first line of defence against germs and pathogens. It consists of a protein called keratin which makes the skin thick.
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• This makes it hard for germs or microbes to enter our body through the skin.
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• Apart from keratin, our skin consists of glands known as sebaceous glands which produce sebum. Sebum acts as a disinfectant, killing certain germs that manage to enter the layers of skin.
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• Skin also has sweat glands. The disinfectants present in the sweat produced by this gland destroy the germs.
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