what body system is the skin a part of
The human body's largest organ is the integumentary system, which includes the skin, hair, nails, glands and nerve receptors. Skin weighs about 6 lbs. (2.7 kilograms) and sheds itself about once every 27 days, according to the Cleveland Clinic. In adults, skin covers a surface area of 18 square feet (1.7 square meters), according to the University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine). The integumentary system works to waterproof, cushion and protect the body from infection, according to the National Institutes of Health. Most skin is waterproof because of keratin, a fibrous protein, and it also is made up of water, other proteins, lipids and different minerals and chemicals.