When asked what the role of the skin is in maintaining homeostasis, th

When asked what the role of the skin is in maintaining homeostasis, the answer that reflects the greatest insight is:

1. “Our body needs vitamin D, and without healthy skin we cannot utilize it into a form we can use.”
2. “Without skin we would not be able to enjoy the sense of touch that is so im-portant to us as humans.”
3. “The skin is a barrier that is really quite good at keeping disease-causing patho-gens from getting into our body.”
4. “It is the pain with its pain receptors that alert us to danger so that we can take appropriate action in order to be safe.”

ANSWER

ANS: 3
Although it is a sensory organ for pain, temperature, and touch and synthesizes vitamin D, its primary role is that of a protective barrier against disease-causing organisms.