Integumentary System

ANATOMY
SYLLABUS
Skin (P. 477)
Microscopic structure of thin, thick, and pigmented skin
Appendages of skin (P. 479)
Hair, nail, pilosebaceous unit (P. 481)

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FAST TRACK BASIC SCIENCE MBBS -475-

Anatomy

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Integumentary System

ANATOMY

SKIN Structures of Skin [11, 08, 06]

Past Questions: Epidermis
1. Mention the different sources of development of - It is superficial, avascular layer of stratified
skin. Name the cells with their functions which squamous epithelium.
are neural crest in origin. (3+2=5) [10 July] - Ectodermal in origin.
2. Name the components of the skin & their sources
- Gives rise to appendages of skin namely hair,
of development. Name the glands derived from
the skin & their locations. (2) [05 Dec] nails, sweat glands, sebaceous glands.
3. Draw a labelled diagram of the microscopic Following layers are recognized from inwards to
structure of the hairy skin. (3) [08 July] outwards:
4. Write short notes on: 1. Basal layer/ Stratum basale
a. Microscopic structure of the epidermis of the • Made up of a single layer of columnar cells
hairless (glabrous) skin with labelled diagram. that rests on basement membrane.
(3) [04 Nov] • Contains stem cells that divides mitotically
b. Microscopic anatomy of epidermis to form keratocytes
(3) [11 July] • Also called stratum germinativum.
c. Epidermis (2) [08 July]
2. Stratum spinosum/Malpighian layer
d. Layers of epidermis & dermis. (2) [09 July]
• Several layers of polyhedral cells
e. Layers of epidermis (2) [04 June]
3. Stratum granulosum
♦ General covering of entire external surface of
body including the external auditory meatus and • Presence of several dark stained granules in II
outer surface of tympanic membrane. cytoplasm.
♦ Surface area of skin of adult body is 1.5-2 m2. 4. Stratum lucidum
♦ Pigmentation of skin: Colour of skin is determined • Homogeneous layers of clear cells
by at least 5 pigments present at different levels • Thick layer of acellular or non-cellular
and places of skin. These are: compounds.
- Melanin (brown): Present in germinative zone • Contains filaments (keratin) embedded in
of epidermis protein.
- Melanoid: Resembles melanin, present Dermis/Corium
diffusely throughout epidermis - Deep, vascular layer of skin derived from
- Carotene: mesoderm.
• Yellow to orange in colour - It is made up of connective tissues mixed with
• Present in stratum corneum and fat cells of blood vessels, lymphatics and nerves.
dermis and superficial fascia 1. Superficial papillary layer: Forms conical,
- Haemoglobin (purple): Present in cutaneous blunt projections (dermal papillae) which
vessels. fits into reciprocal depressions on the
undersurface of epidermis.
- Oxyhemoglobin (Red): Present in cutaneous
vessels. 2. Deep reticular layer: Consist of collagen
fibres and considerable numbers of elastic
The colour is red where keratin is thin (lips) and it
fibres with adipose tissue in between fibres.
is white where keratin is thick (Palms and soles)

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Anatomy

Differences between Thick and Thin Skin

Characters Thick skin Thin Skin
1. Location Palms and soles Skin of scalp and whole body except palms and soles

2. Hair Non-hairy Hairy

Hair follicle absent Hair follicle present

3. Stratum corneum Thick Thin

4. Stratum lucidum Thick Usually absent

5. Stratum granulosum Thick Usually Absent

6. Arrector pili apparatus Absent Present

7. Sebaceous gland Absent Present

Nerve supply of Skin Blood Supply
♦ Sensory nerves: ♦ Papillary plexus, Reticular plexus.
♦ Autonomic nerves that supply smooth muscle in
wall of blood vessels, arrector pili muscles and
myoepithelial cells in sweat glands.

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Integumentary System

Microscopic anatomy of Epidermis Hair

- Hair is keratinous filaments derived from
invaginations of germinative layer of epidermis
into dermis
- Parts
a. Embedded part: Called root and
b. Projecting part: Called shaft
- Hair grows at hair bulb (expanded lower
end of root) by proliferation of its cell
capping.
c. Hair follicle: Tubular sheath surrounding
root.
Types of Hair
a. Lanugo hair: Fetal skin is covered by fine hair
which is pigmented.
b. Vellus hair: Short and narrow hair present over
APPENDAGES OF SKIN most of body surface.
Past Questions: c. Terminal hair: Longer, thicker and often
1. Mention the appendages of skin & their source of heavily pigmented E.g. hairs of pubis, axillae
development. (2 +1 = 3) [08 Dec] after puberty, eyelashes, eyebrows.
2. Name the appendages of the skin and briefly Hair Follicle [05, 06]
mention the “Pilo-sebaceous apparatus”. - It is the tubular sheath surrounding root of
II
(3)[03 Nov] each hair which is invaginated part of
3. Mention different parts of hair and name the epidermis into dermis around hair root.
types of hair present in the human beings. - Wall of hair follicle has different layers from
(1 +1 = 2) [05 June] inside to outsides as
a. Inner root sheath
4. Write short notes on:
• Continuous with surface of skin
a. Structure of the nails (3) [06 Dec]
• Cuticle- Flattened cornified cells.
b. Hair follicle (3) [06 June]
• Huxley’s layer- Cells with eosinophilic
c. Glands of skin (3) [04 June]
granules.
d. Pilosebaceous unit (2) [09 Dec]
• Henle's layer- Single layer of cubical cells
Skin Appendages [08, 03] with flattened nucleus.
♦ Hair and Hair follicle b. Outer root sheath
♦ Nail • Consist of cells which are continuous
with stratum spinosum.
♦ Arrector pili muscles
c. Connective tissue sheath
♦ Glands: sweat and sebaceous glands
• Continuation of dermis
♦ Mammary glands

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Anatomy

Nails [06]
- Modified part of zone of keratinization of
epidermis which are hardened keratin plates
on dorsal surface of tips of fingers and toes.
- Parts Sweat Glands/ Sudoriferous glands
a. Root: - They are glands of skin present all over skin
• Proximal hidden part which is buried into except eardrum, lips, glans penis etc.
nail groove. - They are of two types.
b. Free border: a. Eccrine glands
• Distal part free from skin • Much more abundant and distributed in
II
c. Body: almost every part of skin.
• Exposed part of nail which is adherent to • Single tube coiled into a ball.
underlying skin. • The glands are large in axilla and groin,
- The proximal part of body represents a white most numerous in palms and soles and
opaque crescent called lanule. least numerous in neck and back.
- The skin (germinative zone + corium) beneath • Are merocrine in nature i.e. produce
the root and body of nail is called nail bed. their thin watery secretion without any
- Under the transluscent body of nail, the corium disintegration of epithelial cells.
(dermis) is very vascular. This accounts for their • Supplied and controlled by cholinergic
pink colour. sympathetic nerves.
- Fold of skin overlying the white area of • Helps in regulating body temperature
germinal matrix and covering the root of nail is and excreting body salts.
called proximal nail fold. b. Apocrine glands
- The extension of stratum corneum lining deep • Are confined to axilla, eyelids (Moll's
surface of proximal nail fold on surface of nail glands), nipple, and areola of breast,
is called eponychium. perianal regions and external genitalia.
- The reflection of stratum corneum lining skin • Larger than eccrine glands.
of fingertip on under surface of free distal edge • Produce a thicker secretion having a
of nail is called hyponychium. characteristic odour.

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Integumentary System

c. Ceruminous glands Arrector Pili Muscles:

• Ceruminous glands of external auditory - Are band of smooth muscles attached with
meatus are modified apocrine sweat dermis and connective tissue sheath of hair
glands. follicle.
• Are also merocrine in nature. - Supplied by sympathetic nerves.
• Are regulated by a dual autonomic - Contraction of these muscles causes the raising
control. of hair on skin surface as during exposure to
d. Sebaceous glands cold.

• Simple or branched alveolar glands Sebaceous Glands:

situated all over dermis of skin except - Are holocrine in nature which has a broad duct
for palms and soles. opening into hair follicle.
• They are specially abundant in scalp & face
• Are holocrine in nature i.e.
They produce their secretion by
complete fatty degeneration of central
cells of alveolus which are replaced by
proliferating peripheral cells.
• Secretion is under hormonal control esp.
androgens.
• Oily secretion of sebaceous glands is
called sebum.
• Lubricates skin and protect it from II
moisture, desiccation, & harmful sun rays.
• Sebum also has bactericidal action.
• Sebum makes skin water proof.
Functions
- Protection: antibacterial and antifungal agents.
- Keeps skin smooth and oily.
- Lipid in sebum prevents loss of heat especially
in cold climate.
Pilosebaceous Apparatus [09]
- It is the group of structures in skin which works
as single functional components.
- It consists of
• Hair and hair follicles
• Arrector pili muscles
• Sebaceous glands
• Apocrine glands (in some places)

FAST TRACKBASIC SCIENCE MBBS -481-

Anatomy

SPECIAL POINTS FOR MCQS

1. Developmental aspects of skin and its appendages
Parts Origin
i. Epidermis Surface ectoderm
ii. Dermis Mesoderm (somites)
Appendages
iii. Nails - Modified stratum lucidum (ectodermal)
iv. Hair - Developed from stratum basale (ectodermal)
v. Sebaceous glands - Arises from wall of hair follicles (ectodermal)
vi. Sweat glands - From epidermis (ectodermal)
vii. Mammary glands - Ectodermal
viii. Arrector pilorum muscle - Mesodermal
cells
ix. Melanocytes - NCCs (Neural crest cells) from melanoblasts
2. Melanocytes are derived from neural crest cell i.e. melanoblasts
3. Dendritic cells of Langerhans originate in bone marrow.
4. Malpighian layer is stratum spinosum.
II 5. Stratum basale is stratum germinativum.
6. Stratum corneum, stratum lucidum and stratum granulosum are collectively called zone of
keratinization.
7. Spoon shaped nail (koilonychia) is seen in Iron deficiency anemia.
8. Hypertrophy of nail bed (clubbing) occurs in chronic supportive disease (lung abscess,
bronchiectasis, and osteomyelitis) and cyanotic heart diseases (Fallot's tetralogy, etc).
9. Stratum corneum is homogeneous layer with clear cells.
10. Sweat glands of skin receive cholinergic sympathetic innervation.
11. Lunule is semilunar white area just distal to proximal nail fold.
12. Pacinian corpuscles: Pressure sensation
13. Ceruminous glands of external auditory meatus are modified apocrine glands.

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