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VetBooks.ir THE HORSE’S SKIN
THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF SKIN
Skin is the outer, protective covering of the body. It has a complex structure which allows it
to perform many important functions. For descriptive purposes, the skin can be divided into
two layers: the outer epidermis and the inner dermis. These sit on a layer of subcutaneous
fatty tissue which allows the skin its mobility (Figure 18.1).
Figure 18.1 Diagrammatic section through the skin
Epidermis
The epidermis is composed of several layers of cells which are separated from the dermis by
a thin basement membrane. The cells of the deepest layer divide all the time and are pushed
