INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

WHAT IS THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM?

Your integumentary ( integument means covering ) system is your body’s outer layer. It’s made up of your skin,
nails, hair and the glands and nerves on your skin. Your integumentary system acts as a physical barrier —
protecting your body from bacteria, infection, injury and sunlight. It also helps regulate your body temperature
and allows you to feel skin sensations like hot and cold. It is like an armor and the first line of defense against
viruses, bacteria and other microbes. It shields your body from harmful light and helps regulate your body
temperature. Your integumentary system stores fat, water, glucose and vitamin D, and helps support your
immune system to protect you from diseases.

What is the purpose of the Integumentary system?

Your integumentary system protects your body from infection and injuries you could get from your external
environment. It’s your body’s coat of armor and the first line of defense against viruses, bacteria and other
microbes. It shields your body from harmful light and helps regulate your body temperature. Your integumentary
system stores fat, water, glucose and vitamin D, and helps support your immune system to protect you from
diseases.

Your integumentary system has many important functions. It:

- Provides physical protection against bacteria and germs.

- Absorbs and helps heal abrasions, cuts and other injuries.
- Cushions and protects your body from infection.
- Protects you from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and sunburn.
- Excretes sebum, sweat and other waste from your body.
- your body temperature and allows you to stay cool.
- Helps you feel heat, cold and detect other sensations.
- Synthesizes vitamin D
SKIN

Is the largest and heaviest organ in your body. It weighs about six pounds ( or more ) and is approximately 2
millimeters thick—thinner on sensitive areas like eyelids , and thicker on surfaces that take more stress , like the
soles of your feet. The Skin receives little respect from its habitats, but architecturally it is a marvel. It covers the
entire body.The skin multitask. Its function go well beyond serving as a bag for body contexts. Pliable yet tough.
Without our skin , we would quickly full prey to bacteria and perish from water and heat loss.

Ypur skin is composed of three layers or two distinct region:

Epidermis – The top layer of your skin. This is the part of your skin that you can see and touch. It’s made up of
cells: Keratinocytes , melanocytes , Langerhans, dendritic cells and tactile cells. It is the outermost protective
shield of the body.

Dermis – The middle layer of the skin. This layer is the thickest. It contains sweat and oil glands and hair follicles.
The underlying dermis , making up the bulk of the skin , it is tough , leathery layer composed mostly of fibrous
connective tissues. Only the dermis is vascularized nutrients reach the epidermis by diffusing through the tissue
fluid from blood vessels in dermis.

Hypodermis – The subcutaneous tissue just deep to your skin.. It’s the fatty layer of your skin that helps insulate
your body. This is actually not part of the skin. But it shares some of skins protective functions.it is also called as
superficial fascia because it is superficial to the tough connective tissue wrapping of the skeletal muscles , consists
mostly of Adipose tissue. It also acts as a shock absorber and a insulator that reduces heat loss. This thickens
workedly when a person gained weight in womans it accumulates in thighs and breast but in man it collects in the
anterior abdomen ( beer belly )

NAILS

Your nails protects the ends of your skin that helps insulate your body. The anatomy of your nails consist of

Nail Plate – The hard part of your nail you can see

Nail Bed – the skin under your nails plate

Cuticle – the thin skin at the base of your nail plate.

Matrix – the “root” of your nail responsible for making it grow

Lunula – the white moon-shaped part of your nail plate

HAIR

Our hair does more than help us look nice. The hair on your head helps keep heat in your body. Your eyelashes
and eyebrows help to protect your eyes from dirt and water.

Your hair is made of a protein called keratin.

Your hair consists of three parts: The shaft , Follicle and bulb.

Hair shaft– The part of your hair , can see , touch and style

Hair Follicle – The tube-like structure that keeps your hair in the skin.

Hair bulb – located under your skin and responsible for hair growth.

Goosebumps are caused by your integumentary system. We all have hair erector muscles connected to our hair
follicles and skin. When it contracts , it makes your hair stand up. The “goosebumps” are what we see when these
tiny muscles contract .
GLANDS

Glands are found throughout your skin. They release materials like water , salt or oil from under your skin to the
surface of your skin. Your integumentary system consist of the following glands

Sudoriferous glands – these are the glands that secret sweat through your skin. There are two types of sweat
glands: eccrine glands ( are all over your body and open to your pores ) and apocrine glands ( open into your hair
follicles.

Sebaceous glands – these glands produce sebum ( oil ) and give your faces its oil.

Ceruminous glands – these are the glands in your ear that secrets ear wax

Mammary glands – These are the glands on a person’s chest. In people assigned female at birth (AFAB) it produce
milk after giving birth.

How does the integumentary system work with other systems?

Your body is like a complex machine. All of your organs, body parts and systems work together to keep everything
in check and working as it should. Your integumentary system plays a role in helping other systems maintain their
functions.

For example, it helps your immune system because it’s the first line of defense against bacteria and infection. It
also sends white blood cells to injuries to begin the healing process.

Your integumentary system helps you absorb vitamin D, which acts as a hormone and is crucial to your bone
health because it affects calcium absorption.

The tiny hairs in your nose help your respiratory system because they filter out dust and other particles before you
inhale them into your lungs.

What are common conditions or disorders of the integumentary system?

Your integumentary system is unique because most health conditions associated with it are visible. Unlike your
internal organs, health conditions of your skin, hair and nails are typically external — meaning you and your
healthcare provider can see them.

SKIN DISORDERS

Some of the most common skin disorders are:

- Allergies like contact dermatitis and poison ivy rashes.

- Blisters from trauma.
- Bug bites, such as spider bites, tick bites and mosquito bites.
- Skin cancer, including melanoma.
- Skin infections like cellulitis.
- Skin rashes and dry skin.
- disorders like acne, eczema, psoriasis and vitiligo.
- Skin lesions like moles, freckles and skin tags.
- Wounds, burns (including sunburns) and scars.

HAIR DISORDERS
Hair loss is the most common condition that affects your hair. Some types of hair loss are temporary, while others
are permanent. The most common types of hair loss include:

- Alopecia areata: Patches of hair loss caused by an autoimmune disease.

- Androgenic alopecia: Baldness in both genders/sexes that’s based on genetics.
- Anagen effluvium: Loss of hair during its growth phase; this often occurs during medical treatments like
chemotherapy.
- Telogen effluvium: Loss of hair during its rest phase. It typically shows up a few months after your body
goes through something stressful or from hormonal changes.
- Traumatic alopecia: Hair loss due to damage to your scalp from hair styling, through rubbing your scalp
Repeatedly against a surface or hat or by playing with and breaking your hair.

Other common conditions of hair that aren’t related to hair loss are:

- Dandruff: It causes white or yellow flakes on your scalp and hair shaft. It’s also known as seborrheic
dermatitis.
- Head lice: Tiny, crawling insects that live in a person’s head hair.
- Hirsutism: Excessive hair growth in people assigned female at birth.

NAIL DISORDERS

Like the other structures of your integumentary system, your nails are always exposed. Nail issues can be caused
by your shoes, poor hygiene or from using nail files or trimmers incorrectly. Some of the more common nail
conditions are:

- Onychomycosis: Nail fungus in your fingernails or toenails.

- Onycholysis: When your nail separates from your nail bed.
- Psoriasis of the nails: A skin condition that causes pitting, nail discoloration and other symptoms.
- Lichen planus: A rash that appears as ridges or grooves on your nail.
- Paronychia: An inflammation or infection of the tissue directly surrounding your nail.

GLAND DISORDERS

Some conditions of the sweat and sebaceous glands are:

- Hyperhidrosis: Excessive sweating.

- Seborrheic dermatitis: Scaly, red patches that affect your face, chest or back. When it’s on your head, it’s
called dandruff.
- Sebaceous hyperplasia: A skin condition common in people who are older that causes small, yellowish
bumps on your skin.