Question

Compare thin skin with thick skin.

a) Thin skin has only 1 layer and is found on lips, eyelids, and other delicate structures. Thick skin has hundreds of layers and is found all over the body except where thin skin is found.
b) Thin skin has only 1 layer and contains only the epidermis. Thick skin has 2 layers made up of the epidermis and dermis.
c) Thin skin has 4 layers and covers the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Thick skin has 4 layers and covers most of the body surfaces.
d) Thin skin contains the epidermis and dermis but not the subcutaneous layer. Thick skin contains the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layer.
e) Thin skin has 4 layers and covers most of the body surfaces. Thick skin has 5 layers and covers the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Answer 1

Thin skin has four layers and covers most of the body, while thick skin comprises five layers and is exclusively located on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Thick skin includes an additional layer called the stratum lucidum.

Step-by-step explanation:

Comparing thin skin with thick skin reveals significant differences in structure and location. Option (e) provides the accurate comparison: Thin skin contains four layers and covers most of the body surfaces, while thick skin has five layers and is found on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.

The epidermis of thin skin is composed of the following layers (from deep to superficial): the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, and stratum corneum. In contrast, thick skin includes an additional layer, the stratum lucidum, situated between the stratum corneum and the stratum granulosum. This extra layer contributes to the greater thickness of the epidermis in these regions.

Beneath both types of skin lies the dermis, which is richer in blood vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles, lymph vessels, and sebaceous glands. The dermis is followed by the subcutaneous tissue or hypodermis, which is not considered a layer of the skin but provides significant support and supplies nerves and blood vessels.