Question

The main function of the mammalian skin is
(a)Removal of excess water
(b)Excretion
(c)Storage
(d)Protection

Answer 1

Hint: Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a mammalian. It is made up of stratified squamous epithelium and is the outermost layer of the skin. It provides waterproofing and serves as a barrier.

Complete answer:
A skin forms a protective barrier over the body's surface, liable for keeping water within the body and preventing pathogens from entering. They also protect the body against oxidant stress (UV light), and chemical compounds, and provide mechanical resistance to a minor injury. The epidermis is composed of the outermost layers of the skin and made up of stratified squamous epithelium.

Additional information:
Mammalian skin is composed of two primary layers which are-
Epidermis, which provides waterproofing and serves as a barrier to infection.
The dermis, which serves as a location for the appendages of the skin.
The epidermis primarily consists of keratinocytes, which comprise 90% of its cells, but also contains melanocytes, Langerhans cells, Merkel cells, and inflammatory cells. Epidermal keratinocytes are tightly linked by cell, connected to cytoskeletal proteins, giving the epidermis its mechanical strength.
Highly organized lipids, acids, hydrolytic enzymes, and antimicrobial peptides present in the epidermis inhibit the passage of external chemicals and pathogens into the body. Blood capillaries are present below the epidermis and are connected to an arteriole and a venule.

So, the correct answer is ‘Protection’.

Note:
-The epidermis itself has no blood supply and is nourished almost exclusively by diffused oxygen from the surrounding air.
-The amount and distribution of melanin pigment within the epidermis is the main reason for variation in skin color in human beings.