Which part of the human body offers the most resistance to electricity?

Prepare for your Marine Engineering Exam with our engaging and informative quiz. Test your knowledge with multiple-choice questions, detailed explanations, and hints. Set sail towards success!

Multiple Choice

Which part of the human body offers the most resistance to electricity?

Electrical resistance inside the body is not uniform; the outer skin is the main barrier to current entering. When skin is thick or dry, the outermost layer (the stratum corneum) has very low moisture and ions, making it a poor conductor and giving it high resistance. This insulating layer keeps most of the current from penetrating into the tissues below. Inside the body, tissues such as muscle, blood, and nerves are hydrated and rich in electrolytes, so once electricity does get past the skin, these tissues conduct much more readily. Wet or damaged skin reduces this barrier, allowing current to pass more easily. So the part that offers the most resistance to electricity is thick and/or dry skin, due to its insulating, low-moisture outer layer.

Electrical resistance inside the body is not uniform; the outer skin is the main barrier to current entering. When skin is thick or dry, the outermost layer (the stratum corneum) has very low moisture and ions, making it a poor conductor and giving it high resistance. This insulating layer keeps most of the current from penetrating into the tissues below.

Inside the body, tissues such as muscle, blood, and nerves are hydrated and rich in electrolytes, so once electricity does get past the skin, these tissues conduct much more readily. Wet or damaged skin reduces this barrier, allowing current to pass more easily.

So the part that offers the most resistance to electricity is thick and/or dry skin, due to its insulating, low-moisture outer layer.

More practice questions