Is there any sort of gas exchange that is a function of human skin?

This was told to me in a college course and I had never heard anything like it and I'm a little skeptical since it was the first class. I've taken many science courses so i figured I had a good basic understanding of the body. Does this function exist? If yes then can you explain it?

Is there any sort of gas exchange that is a function of human skin?
Yes. Gas exchange does take place through human skin. There are tiny pores on our skin that actually breathe. Let me give you a practical example. Know why splashing water on your face makes you feel fresh? The reason is that water washes away the dirt and sweat from the pores making them clean and allowing the oxygen to pass freely. The breathing is somewhat less than 150ml/hr. The oxygen breathed by the pores makes feel active. it's just like the stomata under the plant leaves.
Reply:i'm afrid not... i'm realy a 16 year old in high school but i don't think that there's any gas exchange that is a function of human skin.
Reply:There is some very limited gas exchange via the epidermis in human, termed cutaneous or percutaneous gas exchange.





And it is VERY limited, less than 150mL/hr.





It isn't really very difficult to explain. Human skin isn't perfectly waterproof. There is still a slightly moist boundary between the capillaries and the air, and gasses can diffuse across any moist boundary. It's not a special physiological feature, it's just an accidental by produce of diffusion.

aspidistra