Mammal SkinMammalian Skin, a complex and multifunctional system, serves as a vital interface between the organism and its environment. Its structure reflects an intricate balance between protection, sensory perception, and adaptability. The skin, composed of the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous fat, is equipped with specialized structures such as hair, glands, and modifications like claws and hooves, which are tailored to the diverse ecological niches mammals occupy. This dynamic system ensures thermal regulation through features like blood vessel networks and sudoriferous glands, while providing mechanical protection, water retention, and a barrier against microorganisms. Its sensory capabilities, coupled with glandular functions like milk production and pheromone secretion, underscore its evolutionary significance in survival and communication. This comprehensive exploration of mammalian skin reveals how its adaptive traits are shaped by environmental challenges. From aquatic mammals' water-resistant layers to the insulating properties of desert species, the skin showcases nature's ingenuity. By examining its morphology, physiology, and biochemical processes, this study not only highlights its pivotal role in ecological adaptation but also opens avenues for applied sciences. Understanding these structures has practical implications, from advancing fur animal breeding to exploring mammalian glandular secretions for behavioral control. This work integrates decades of research, offering a systematic analysis that bridges pure science and practical application, while emphasizing the need for continued study in this fascinating field. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1982. Many titles in the Voices Revived program are also newly available as ebooks, offered at a discounted price to support wider access to scholarly work. |
Contents
| 18 | |
| 30 | |
II | 43 |
Ordo Marsupialia | 50 |
Ordo Insectivora | 60 |
44 | 499 |
ADAPTATIONS OF MAMMAL SKIN | 573 |
Skin adaptations in arboreal mammals | 588 |
Skin adaptations in subterranean mammals | 598 |
Seasonal variations | 617 |
References | 631 |
Index | 687 |
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Common terms and phrases
absent adult alveoli anal gland arrectores pilorum muscles basal belly body length bundles of collagen Cetacea cm² collagen bundles collagen fiber bundles cuticle cells dermal papillae dermis developed diameter distal dorsal ducts open elastin fibers epidermis fat cells female fiber bundles flippers fur hairs glands are small glomi granna granules grow in tufts guard hairs hair bulbs hair bursae hair categories hair follicles hair roots hair tuft hairs divide hairs grow singly hairs length hind sole horizontal bundles inner male mammals medulla Montagna outer papillary layer pelage pigment cells pile and fur pile hairs reticular layer sacrum Schaffer sebaceous glands second order secretion cavities shaft Skin from withers skin surface Skurat Sokolov specific glands specimen stratum corneum stratum granulosum stratum lucidum stratum malpighii structure subcutaneous fat tissue summer tail flukes thick thicker thickest thin thinner tubular glands upper vibrissae winter withers skin Zool