INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
By Sydney Sieger
FUNCTIONS OF THE
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
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Protects internal living tissues and organs
Protects against invasion of infectious organisms
Protects body from dehydration
Protects body against sudden changes in temperature
Helps get rid of waste materials
Receptor for touch, pressure, pain, heat and cold
Stores water and fat
HOW IT WORKS
Skin and other parts of the integumentary system work hand
in hand with other systems in the body to maintain and
support cells, tissues and organs needs to function properly.
FIRST DEFENSE
The first defense mechanism in the immune system, is the skin.
Immune cells live within the skin and provide a defense against
infections. Glands within the skin hold oils that increase a barrier
function action of the skin.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
The integumentary system works with the digestive system; encouraging the
uptake of calcium. Then it enters the bloodstream through capillary chains in
the skin.
How healthy the skin functions is related to the digestive system because
digestion of fats and oils are crucial for the body to make protective oils for
the skin and hair.
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
The integumentary system also works with the circulatory system and surface
capillaries through the body because, certain substances enter the bloodstream
through capillary chains in the skin; therefore patches can be used to deliver
“medications” for certain circumstances.
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM –
PSYCHOLOGICAL
The integumentary system doesn’t only work with other systems
in the body, it also works hand in hand with psychological
processes. Especially those contributed in regulating the bodies
internal environment in order for the body to maintain a stable
condition.
SKIN
Skin is very important because it helps regulate the bodies temperature. It
does this through the brain; if the body gets too hot or cold, the brain sends
nerve impulses to the skin and has three different ways to increase or decrease
the bodies temperature:
1. Hairs on the skin trap more warmth by standing up and less if they lie flat
2. Glands under the skin produce sweat in order to increase heat loss by
evaporation if the body gets too hot
3. Capillaries can open when the body needs to cool off and close when the
body needs to save heat
SKIN
SKIN: EPIDERMIS
• Skin is the largest organ of the body with a surface areas of about 22
square feet and 8 pounds. One of its main layers is the epidermis; outer
layer. The epidermis contains four cell types:
1.
Keratinocytes: produces keratin – protein that gives skin strength and flexibility and waterproofs
the skin surface
2.
Melanocytes: produces melanin – dark pigment that gives the skin its color
3.
Merkel’s cell – touch reception
4.
Langerhans's cell – helps immune system by processing antigens
EPIDERMIS – STRATUM BASALE
The deepest layer of the epidermis would be the stratum basale. The stratum
basale is a single layer of cells resting on a layer between the dermis and the
epidermis. The cells in the stratum basale divide constantly. As new cells are
produced, old ones are pushed to the skins surface. Only the deepest ells of
the stratum basale receive nourishment, the cells that are pushed out from this
layer die.
EPIDERMIS – STRATUM
SPINOSUM
The stratum spinosum is another layer in the epidermis. It is made up of
spiny prickle cells that interlock to support the skin. The stratum spinosum is
a thin middle later and produces keratin, which starts the process of the death
of epithelial cells.
EPIDERMIS – STRATUM LUCIDUM
The epidermal layer; stratum lucidum, protects the body from ultraviolet-ray
damage. The stratum lucidum layer is a thick layer which only appears on the
palms or soles of feet.
EPIDERMIS – STRATUM
CORNEUM
The epidermal layer; stratum corneum, is the outermost layer of the epidermis
and is made up of rows of dead skin. The cells within the stratum corneum
consist of soft keratin which keeps the skin elastic and protects other cells
from drying out.
SKIN: DERMIS
The dermis is the second layer of skin beneath the epidermis layer.
The dermis layer is referred to as the “true skin.” The dermis layer is
made up of collagen, reticular fibers and elastic fibers. The dermis
layer itself is made up of two layer; the papillary layer and the reticular
layer.
DERMIS: PAPILLARY LAYER
The papillary layer of the dermis has loose connective tissue and is
found beneath the epidermis layer and connects to it through fingerlike structures (papillae). Some of the papillae contain capillaries which
bring nutrients to the epidermis, while others contain sensory touch
receptors.
DERMIS: RETICULAR LAYER
The reticular layer of the dermis is made up of dense connective tissue.
It contains crisscrossed collagen fibers that work to form a strong
elastic “network.” The reticular layer also contains sensory receptors
for deep pressure, sweat glands, lymph vessels, smooth muscle and hair
follicles.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Baily, R. (2012). Integumentary system. Retrieved from
http://biology.about.com/od/organsystems/ss/integumentary_syste
m/htm.
Farabee, M. (2010, May 18). Integumentary system. Retrieved from
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/biobookinteg
usys.html
Sciencelinks. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://sciencenetlinks.com/student-teacher
-sheets/integumentary-system/
Skin. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science
/health-and-human-body/human-body/skin-article.html
Unknown E. (2012). A.d.a.m. Retrieved from http://owh.adam.com/pages/
guide/reftext/html/skin_sys_fin.html.