The Integumentary system

By:- Alemker Molla

Outline
Introduction
Functions of skin
Anatomy of Skin
- Epidermis
- Dermis
 Accessory structures
 Hair
 Nail
 Glands
 receptors
Integumentary system is composed of the skin and the
organs derived from it (hair, sweat and sebaceous glands,
nails)
“covering” or integument
Sixteen percent of body Wight
largest organ of the body
2 square meters; 4.5-5Kg.
Largest sense organ in the body
The study of the skin is Dermatology
Functions:
1. Regulation of body temperature
Cellular metabolism produces heat as a
waste product .
High temperature
Dilate surface blood vessels
Sweating
Low temperature
Surface vessels constrict
shivering
2. Protection from external agents
physical abrasion, chemical damage,
dehydration, thermal damage
ultraviolet radiation, bacteria
3. Sensation (cutaneous receptors)
touch
vibration
pain
temperature
4. Excretion
5. Immunity/ Resistance
6. Blood Reservoir
8-10 % in a resting adult
7. Synthesis of vitamin D
Ultraviolet light stimulates the production of a
precursor molecule in the skin that is modified by
the liver and kidneys into vitamin D.
Vitamin D increases calcium uptake in the
intestines.
8. Insulation and cushion
Skin Layers
2 layers: Epidermis and dermis
Epidermis
• Outermost protective shield of the body
• Composed of epithelial cells
• Avascular
Dermis
• A tough leathery layer deep to the epidermis
• making up the bulk of the skin
• Composed of fibrous connective tissue
• Vascular
Hypodermis or superficial fascia

A subcutaneous tissue deep to the skin

Not considered as part of the skin, but it shares
some of the skins protective functions
Consists mostly of adipose tissue and areolar
connective tissue
Functions
• store fat
• anchor the skin to the underlying muscles
Epidermis
Consists of four types of cells
Arranged in four or five distinct cell
layers.
Cells of the Epidermis
Keratinocytes
Melanocytes
Merkel cells
Langerhans’
cells
Four principal cell types in epidermis
Keratinocyte
Principal cell
Arise from constant cell mitosis at the deepest
layer
Migrate upward through various layers of the
epidermis
Keratinocytes cells manufacture keratin
during their migration to the skin surface
As cells migrate to the surface their contents become
dominated by keratin
The cells will deform to become flattened, dead structures
that are keratin filled
Million of cells on the free surface rub off daily
Melanocytes
Spider shaped cells found in basal layer
Specialized epithelial cells that synthesize the
pigment melanin.
Melanocytes have many branching processes
that touch all Keratinocytes in the basal layer.
Processes carry melanin to Keratinocytes
Melanin granules accumulate on the superficial
side of the nucleus of the Keratinocytes
Melanin granules form a pigment shield that protects
the nucleus from ultraviolet (UV) radiation in
sunlight
Langerhan’s cells
Star shaped cells
Arise from bone marrow and migrate to the
epidermis
Are macrophages that help to activate the immune
system
Their cell processes extend among surrounding
keratinocytes
Form a continuous network
Merkel Cells
Spiky shaped hemispheres found at the
epidermal - dermal junction
Each Merkel cell is associated with a disc
shaped sensory nerve ending
The combined structure is called a Merkel disc

w/c function as a sensory nerve receptor for

touch.
Epidermal Layers
Four layers in
thin skin
Five layers in
thick skin
Stratum lucidum
is extra layer
Found on
fingertips,
palms and soles
of feet
Stratum basale
Deep layer attached
to underlying
dermis
Single row of
youngest cells
 Ongoing cell mitosis
there and some times
called stratum
germinativum.
Stratum spinosum

Several cell layers

Cells contain a web-like
system of filaments
Abundant Langerhan’s
cells in this layer.
Stratum granulosum
Area of 3-5 cell
layers
Keratinocytes
flatten and
begin to
disintegrate
Release
glycolipid
Stratum lucidum

Consist of a
few rows of
clear, flat,
dead cells
Present only
in thick skin
Stratum corneum
Broad zone 20-30
cell layers thick
Protects skin from
abrasion &
penetration
Dermis
Layer of strong, flexible connective tissue
Cells are typical of connective tissue
Fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, and white blood cells
Semi fluid matrix is heavily embedded with collagen,
elastin, and reticular fibers.
Richly supplied with nerve endings, blood vessels and
lymphatic vessels
Hair follicles, oil and sweat glands are located in the
dermis
has two main layers: Papillary layer & Reticular layer.
Papillary layer
A thin superficial connective tissue layer in which
the fibers form a loosely woven mat heavily
invested with blood vessels

Superior surface has projections called dermal

papillae that indent the overlying epidermis.

Many papillae contain capillary loops, free nerve

endings (pain), and Meissner’s corpuscles (touch)
Reticular layer
This layer accounts for 80% of the dermis
Tissue is dense irregular connective tissue
Collagen fibers of the dermis give the skin its
strength .
Collagen binds water, helping to maintain hydration
Elastin provides stretch-recoil properties
Skin Color
Three pigments contribute to skin color; melanin,
carotene, and hemoglobin
Melanin ranges in color from yellow to reddish
brown
All humans have the same amount of melanocytes
Racial differences in skin coloring is thought to reflect the
kind and amount of melanin made and retained
Dark skinned people produce much more and darker
melanin than those of fair skinned individuals and their
ketatinocytes retain it longer.
Melanin
Prolonged sun exposure causes a substantial melanin
buildup, which helps protect DNA of viable skin cells
from UV radiation
A speed up of melanin production resulting in a
darkening of the skin
Carotene
Carotene is a yellow to orange pigment found in plant
products
It tends to accumulate in the stratum corneum and
the fatty tissue of the epidermis
It is most obvious on the palms and soles of the feet
where the stratum corneum is thickest
Hemoglobin
The hemoglobin is located in red blood cells circulating
in the dermal capillaries
The crimson color of oxygenated hemoglobin gives fair
skin its pinkish hue
When hemoglobin is poorly oxygenated the blood and
skin of light skinned people appears blue
Appendages of the Skin
Sweat (Sudoriferous) glands
Sebaceous (oil) glands
Hair and hair follicles
Nails
Sweat Glands
Distributed over the entire body
surface except the nipples and parts of
the external genitalia
Approximately 2.5 million per
individual
Two major types
Eccrine sweat glands
Apocrine sweat glands
Eccrine sweat glands
The most numerous sweat gland
Particularly abundant on the palms, soles of the
feet, and forehead
a simple, coiled, tubular gland
The secretory part lies coiled in the dermis and the
duct extends to open in a funnel shaped pore
Apocrine sweat glands
Largely confined to the axillary and anogenital areas
larger than eccrine sweat glands and their ducts empty
into hair follicles
Apocrine secretions contain the same basic
components as sweat plus some fatty substances and
protein
Bacteria upon our skin decompose these substances
and produce body odor
Ceruminous glands
modified apocrine glands found in the lining of
the external ear
secrete cerumen (earwax) which because of its
sticky texture deters insects and foreign material
from entering the ear
Sebaceous (oil) Glands
Simple alveolar glands found all over the
body except on the palms and soles
secrete an oil called sebum into a hair follicle
or pore on the skin surface
Sebum softens and lubricates the hair and
skin, prevents hair from becoming brittle, and
slows water loss from the skin
Sebum is bactericidal
The glands are regulated by hormones and
while relatively inactive in childhood become
activated in both sexes during puberty
Hairs and Hair Follicles
The main function of our sparse body hair is to
sense insects on the skin before they sting
Hair on the scalp protects against trauma, heat
loss, and sunlight
Eyelashes shield the eyes, and nose hairs filter
large particles from the air
Structure of a Hair
The hair shaft projects
from the skin
The root is embedded
in the skin
Structure of a Hair Follicle
Hair follicles extend
from the epidermal
surface into the dermis
The deep end of the
follicle is expanded
and forms a hair bulb
A sensory nerve
ending called a root
hair plexus wraps
each bulb
Structure of a Hair Follicle

Associated with
each hair follicle is
a bundle of
smooth muscle
fiber called
arrector pili
The muscle fibers
pull the hair shaft
into an upright
position
Life cycle
Anagen : active growth
Catagen: hair matrix cell die , follicle and bzser
shrivel
Telogen : resting phase
Nails
 Nails are scale like modification
of the epidermis
 Nails contain hard keratin
 Nail components
Free edge
Body of nail
Nail folds
Lunula
Eponychium
Nail matrix
 The nail matrix lies deep to the
lunula and is the site where nail
growth is occurring
Disorders of the integumentary
system
Burns
Threat to life
Catastrophic loss of body fluids
Dehydration and fatal circulatory shock
Infection
Types
First degree – epidermis: redness (e.g. sunburn)
Second degree – epidermis and upper dermis: blister
Third degree - full thickness
Infections
Skin cancer
Skin Cancers

Basal cell carcinoma: originate from the stratum

basele (about 70% of skin cancers). Treated by
excision.
Squamous carcinoma: originate from cells
immediately above the basale layer. Treatment
consist of X-ray and excision.
Malignant melanoma: most life-threatening arises
from melanocytes in the basale. Most often begins
as a mole-like growth and enlarges. May change and
metastatize. Often removed by excision, x-ray.
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