Which function describes UV light protection by the skin?

Which function describes UV light protection by the skin?

• A. Absorbs nutrients from sunlight.
• B. Shields skin from harmful ultraviolet rays.
• C. Regulates blood sugar.
• D. Aids in bone formation.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how the skin protects itself from ultraviolet radiation. The skin shields itself mainly by producing melanin, which absorbs and dissipates UV light, turning that energy into heat and reducing DNA damage. This protective pigment helps lower the risk of sunburn and skin cancer. While UV exposure does trigger vitamin D production, which is important for bone health, that is not describing a protective function of the skin against UV rays itself. The other options don’t fit the idea of protection—no role in absorbing nutrients from sunlight, no role in regulating blood sugar, and while vitamin D helps bones, that’s not the protective action described here.

The main idea is how the skin protects itself from ultraviolet radiation. The skin shields itself mainly by producing melanin, which absorbs and dissipates UV light, turning that energy into heat and reducing DNA damage. This protective pigment helps lower the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

While UV exposure does trigger vitamin D production, which is important for bone health, that is not describing a protective function of the skin against UV rays itself. The other options don’t fit the idea of protection—no role in absorbing nutrients from sunlight, no role in regulating blood sugar, and while vitamin D helps bones, that’s not the protective action described here.