04 The Integumentary System

Describe

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Describe
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Describe
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Describe
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The
Integumentary
System
Learning Objectives
1. Identify and describe the major layers of the skin and the tissue it is
made
2. Describe the functions of Langerhans cells, melanocytes, and
melanin, hairs and nails
3. Discuss the importance of cutaneous senses
4. Describe the functions of the glands in the skin
The integumentary system consists of the skin, its
accessory structures such as hair and sweat glands,
and the subcutaneous tissue below the skin.

It separates the internal environment of the body from

the external environment and prevents the entry of
many harmful substances.
• Protects the internal structures of the body from
damage
• Prevents dehydration
• Stores fat
• Produces vitamins and hormones
• Helps maintain homeostasis within the body by

assisting with the regulation of temperature and water
• It is the body’s first line of defense
• It helps to provide protection from harmful UV

radiation
• A sensory organ with receptors for detecting

heat and cold, touch, pressure, and pain
• The natural secretion of sebum furnishes the

skin with partially water-repellent and
antibiotic qualities
The Skin
• Two major layers of the skin
• Epidermis – chiefly protective
• Dermis – contains thousands
of microsensors as well as
serve to regulate body
temperature
• Under the dermis is the

hypodermis which is made up
of subcutaneous fat acting as
buffer and extra thermal
insulation
EPIDERMIS
• The epidermis is made of stratified squamous keratinizing epithelial
tissue and is thickest on the palms and soles.
• The cells that are most abundant are called keratinocytes, and there are
no capillaries present between them.
Layers of the Epidermis
• Stratum Germinativum (The Basal Cell
Layer)
• Also known as “stratum basale”
• This is the base of the epidermis, the
innermost layer in which mitosis takes place
• New cells are produced continually and
produces the protein called keratin
• Merkel cells (or discs) are cells living along
with keratocytes that are receptor for the
sense of touch
• Also contains melanocytes that produces the
skin pigment known as melanin
• Patches of melanin in the skin cause birthmarks,
freckles, and age spots
• Stratum Spinosum (The Squamous Cell
Layer)
• Located above the basal layer
• Also known as “spiny layer”
• Produces keratinocytes
• Langerhans cells, also known as dendritic
cells attaches to antigens that invade
damaged skin and alert the immune system
to their presence
• Stratum Granulosum
• Contains diamond shape cells with
keratohyalin granules and lamellar granules
• Keratohyalin granules contain keratin
precursors
• Lamellar granules contain glycolipids that is
secreted to the surface of the cells and
function as a glue, keeping the cells stuck
together
• Stratum Lucidum
• Present in thicker skin
• Found in the palms and soles
• A thin layer consisting of eleidin which a
transformation product of keratohylin
• Stratum Corneum
• The outermost layer of the epidermis
• Also known as the “horny layer” because of a
horn-like appearance
• Is sloughed off continually as new cells take
place
• Complete cell turnover occurs every 28 – 30
days in young adults and 45 – 50 days in
elderly adults
DERMIS
• The dermis is made of an irregular type of fibrous connective tissue,
irregular meaning that the fibers are not parallel, but run in all
directions
• The uneven junction of the dermis with the epidermis is called the
papillary layer
• Capillaries are abundant here to nourish not only the dermis but also
the stratum germinativum
Blood Vessels
• The blood vessels supply nutrients and oxygen to the skin and take
away cell waste and cell products.
• The blood vessels also transport the vitamin D produced in the skin
back to the rest of the body.
Lymph Vessels
• The lymph vessels bathe the tissues of the skin with lymph, a milky
substance that contains the infection-fighting cells of the immune
system.
• These cells work to destroy any infection or invading organisms as the

lymph circulates to the lymph nodes.
Hair Follicles
• The hair follicle is a tube-shaped sheath that surrounds the part of
the hair that is under the skin and nourishes the hair.
• At the base of a follicle is the hair root, which contains cells called
matrix
• The rate of hair growth averages 0.3 to 0.4 in/month
• Attached to each hair follicle is a small, smooth muscle called the
pilomotor or arrector pili muscle.
Sweat Glands
• Apocrine glands are specialized sweat
glands that can be found only in the
armpits and pubic region.
• Most active in stressful and emotional

situations
• These glands secrete a milky sweat that

encourages the growth of the bacteria
responsible for body odor.
• Eccrine glands are the true sweat
glands.
• Found over the entire body, these glands
regulate body temperature by bringing
water via the pores to the surface of the
skin, where it evaporates and reduces skin
temperature.
• These glands can produce up to two liters

of sweat an hour, however, they secrete
mostly water, which doesn't encourage the
growth of odor-producing bacteria.
Sebaceous Glands
• Sebaceous, or oil, glands, are
attached to hair follicles and can
be found everywhere on the body
except for the palms of the hands
and the soles of the feet.
• These glands secrete oil that helps
keep the skin smooth and supple.
• The oil also helps keep skin
waterproof and protects against an
overgrowth of bacteria and fungi
on the skin.
Nerve Endings
• The dermis layer also contains pain
and touch receptors that transmit
sensations of pain, itch, pressure
and information regarding
temperature to the brain for
interpretation.
• If necessary, shivering (involuntary

contraction and relaxation of
muscles) is triggered, generating
body heat.
Collagen and Elastin
• The dermis is held together by a protein called collagen, made by
fibroblasts.
• Fibroblasts are skin cells that give the skin its strength and resilience.
• Collagen is a tough, insoluble protein found throughout the body in
the connective tissues that hold muscles and organs in place.
• In the skin, collagen supports the epidermis, lending it its durability.
• Elastin, a similar protein, is the substance that allows the skin to

spring back into place when stretched and keeps the skin flexible.
Nail Follicles
• Found on the ends of fingers and toes
• Mitosis takes place in the nail root at the

base of the nail and the new cells produce
keratin and then die
• Although the nail itself consists of

keratinized dead cells, the flat nail bed is
living epidermis and dermis
• Nails protect the ends of the fingers and toes

from mechanical injury and give the fingers
greater ability to pick up small objects
Sublayers of the Dermis
• The Papillary Layer
• The upper layer, contains a thin
arrangement of collagen fibers.
• It supplies nutrients to select layers of the
epidermis and regulates temperature.
• Both of these functions are accomplished
with a thin, extensive vascular system that
operates similarly to other vascular systems
in the body.
• Constriction and expansion control the
amount of blood that flows through the skin
and dictate whether body heat is dispelled
when the skin is hot or conserved when it is
cold.
• Reticular Layer
• The lower layer, is thicker and made of thick
collagen fibers that are arranged in parallel to
the surface of the skin.
• The layer is denser than the papillary dermis,
and it strengthens the skin, providing
structure and elasticity.
• It also supports other components of the skin,
such as hair follicles, sweat glands,
and sebaceous glands.
HYPODERMIS
• Also known as the “subcutaneous layer” or “superficial fascia”
• The innermost layer of the skin, and consists of a network of fat and
collagen cells
• Functions as both an insulator, conserving the body's heat, and as
a shock-absorber, protecting the inner organs.
• It also stores fat as an energy reserve for the body.
• The blood vessels, nerves, lymph vessels, and hair follicles also cross
through this layer.
• The thickness of the subcutis layer varies throughout the body and
from person to person.
The integumentary system is the
outermost organ system of the body.
The skin protects the body against

pathogens and chemicals, minimizes
loss or entry of water, blocks the
harmful effects of sunlight, and
produces vitamin D

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Describe

It separates the internal environment of the body from

• Produces vitamins and hormones

• Helps maintain homeostasis within the body by

• It helps to provide protection from harmful UV

• A sensory organ with receptors for detecting

• The natural secretion of sebum furnishes the

• Under the dermis is the

• These cells work to destroy any infection or invading organisms as the

• Most active in stressful and emotional

• These glands secrete a milky sweat that

• These glands can produce up to two liters

• If necessary, shivering (involuntary

• In the skin, collagen supports the epidermis, lending it its durability.

• Elastin, a similar protein, is the substance that allows the skin to

• Mitosis takes place in the nail root at the

• Although the nail itself consists of

• Nails protect the ends of the fingers and toes

The skin protects the body against

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