The Integumentary
System
The integumentary system is the largest organ of the body that forms a
physical barrier between the external environment and the internal
environment.
The skin covers the external surface of the body and is the largest organ of
the body in weight.
The skin consists of two main parts
1. Epidermis
2. Dermis
Between the skin and underlying structures is the subcutaneous layer
composed of areolar tissue and adipose (fat) tissue
Epidermis
Epidermis - The superficial, thinner portion, epidermis is
avascular. The epidermis is composed of keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium.
The cells on the surface are constantly being rubbed off and
replaced by cells which originated from the germinative
layers.
Complete replacement of the epidermis takes about 40 days
Maintenance of healthy epidermis
Desquamation
Effective keratinization
Continuous cell division in the deeper layers
Hair, secretions from sebaceous glands and ducts of
sweat gland pass through the epidermis to reach
the surface.
The surface of the epidermis is ridged by projections
of cells in the dermis called the papillae
Blisters develop when acute trauma causes
separation of the dermis and epidermis and serous
fluid collect between the two layers.
It contains four principal types of cells:
1. Keratinocytes,
2. Melanocytes
3. Intraepidermal macrophages
4. Tactile epithelial cells
Keratinocytes
They are arranged in four or five layers and produce the protein keratin that
helps protect the skin and underlying tissues.
Keratinocytes also produce lamellar granules, which release a water-repellent
sealant that decreases water entry and loss and inhibits the entry of foreign
materials.
Melanocytes
which develop from the ectoderm of a developing embryo and produce the
pigment melanin that contributes to skin color and absorbs damaging
ultraviolet (UV) light.
The level of oxygenation of Hb and the amount of blood circulating in
the dermis give the skin its pink colour
Intraepidermal macrophages or Langerhans cells
They are arise from red bone marrow and migrate to the epidermis.
They participate in immune responses
Tactile epithelial cells, or Merkel cells:
They are located in the deepest layer of the epidermis, where they
contact the flattened process of a sensory neuron (nerve cell), a
structure called a tactile disc or Merkel disc.
Tactile epithelial cells and their associated tactile discs detect touch
sensations.
There are 2 type of skin
Thin skin Thick skin
Present all parts of body except • Present in Areas such as
areas such as palms, palmar
surface of digits, and soles. palms, palmar surface of digits,
In the thin skin epidermis has four and soles.
strata or layers. • The epidermis has five layers
1.Stratum basale
1.stratum basale
2.Stratum spinosum,
2.stratum spinosum,
3.Stratum granulosum,
3.stratum granulosum
4.Stratum corneum.
4.stratum lucidum
5.Thick stratum corneum.
Dermis
The deeper part of the skin, the dermis
It is composed of dense irregular connective tissue containing collagen
and elastic fibers.
This woven network of fibers has great tensile strength
The dermis also has the ability to stretch and recoil easily.
It is much thicker than the epidermis, and this thickness varies from region to
region in the body
Reaching its greatest thickness on the palms and soles.
Based on its tissue structure, the dermis can be divided into:
1. Thin superficial papillary region
2. Thick deeper reticular region.
The papillary region
Superficial portion of dermis consists of areolar connective tissue with thin
collagen and fine elastic fibers
contains dermal ridges that house blood capillaries, corpuscles of touch, and
free nerve endings.
The reticular region
Deeper portion of dermis consists of dense irregular connective tissue with
bundles of thick collagen and some coarse elastic fibers.
Spaces between fibers contain some adipose cells, hair follicles, nerves,
sebaceous glands, and sudoriferous glands
Accessory structures of the skin
1.Hair
2.sweat glands
3.Sebaceous glands
4.Nails
Hair
Hairs are present on most skin surfaces except the palms, palmar surfaces of
the fingers, the soles, and plantar surfaces of the feet
Anatomy of a Hair
Each hair is composed of columns of dead, keratinized epidermal cells bonded
together by extracellular proteins.
The hair shaft is the superficial portion of the hair, which projects above the
surface of the skin.
The hair root is the portion of the hair deep to the shaft that penetrates into the
dermis, and sometimes into the subcutaneous layer.
The shaft and root of the hair both consist of three concentric layers of cells:
1. Medulla
2. Cortex
• Sebaceous (oil) glands and a bundle of smooth muscle cells are also
associated with hairs
• Surrounding each hair follicle are dendrites of neurons that form a hair root
plexus which is sensitive to touch
Function
• Hair on the head guards the scalp from injury and the sun’s
rays.
• It also decreases heat loss from the scalp.
• Eyebrows and eyelashes protect the eyes from foreign particles
• Sensing light touch.
Sebaceous Glands or oil glands
They are simple, branched acinar glands.
They are connected to hair follicles
The secreting portion of a sebaceous gland lies in the dermis and usually
opens into the neck of a hair follicle.
In some locations, such as the lips, glans penis, labia minora, and tarsal
glands of the eyelids, sebaceous glands open directly onto the surface of
the skin.
Absent in the palms and soles
sebaceous glands are small in most areas of the trunk and limbs, but
large in the skin of the breasts, face, neck, and superior chest.
Sebaceous glands secrete an oily substance called sebum a mixture of
triglycerides, cholesterol, proteins, and inorganic salts.
Function of sebum
Sebum coats the surface of hairs and helps keep them from
drying and becoming brittle.
Sebum also prevents excessive evaporation of water from the skin,
keeps the skin soft and, and inhibits the growth of some bacteria.
Sweat glands
These are widely distributed throughout the skin and are most numerous in the
palms of the hands, soles of the feet, axillae and groins.
They are formed from epithelial cells.
The bodies of the glands lie coiled in the subcutaneous tissue.
There are two types of sweat gland.
The commonest type opens onto the skin surface through tiny pores, and the sweat
produced here is a clear, watery fluid important in regulating body temperature.
The second type opens into hair follicles, and is found, for example, in the axilla.
Bacterial decomposition of these secretions causes an unpleasant odour.
A specialised example of this type of gland is the ceruminous gland of the outer ear,
which secretes earwax
Function
The regulation of body temperature
Nails
They are derived from the same cells as epidermis and hair and
consist of hard, horny keratin plates.
They protect the tips of the fingers and toes.
The root of the nail is embedded in the skin and covered by the
cuticle, which forms the hemispherical pale area called the lunula.
The nail plate is the exposed part that has grown out from the
germinative zone of the epidermis called the nail bed.
Finger nails grow more quickly than toe nails and growth is quicker
when the environmental temperature is high.
Functions:
1. Protection,
2 Body temperature regulation
2. blood storage,
3. Sensation, excretion and absorption
4. synthesis of vitamin D.
