THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
The integumentary system, consisting of the skin, hair and nails, act as a barrier to protect the body
from the outside world. It also functions to retain body fluids, protect against disease, eliminate waste
products, and regulate body temperature.
1. SKIN AND ITS ACCESSORY ORGANS-THE HAIR, NAILS,
AND A VARIETY OF GLANDS, MAKE UP THE
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM.
2. The Skin is the human body's Largest Organs.
3. The word INTEGUMENT comes from a LATIN word that
means to COVER.
4. THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF THE
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM IS PROTECTION.
5. IT PERFORMS THIS FUNCTION BY: (The FIVE Main
Functions of the Integumentary System)
A. SERVING AS A BARRIER AGAINST INFECTION AND
INJURY.
B. HELPING TO REGULATE BODY TEMPERATURE.
C. REMOVING WASTE PRODUCTS FROM THE BODY.
D. PROVIDING PROTECTION AGAINST ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FROM THE SUN.
E. PRODUCING VITAMIN D.
6. Because the skin contains several types of Sensory Receptors, it serves as the gateway through
which Sensations such as PRESSURE, HEAT, COLD, AND PAIN ARE TRANSMITTED TO THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM.
7. The Skin is composed of Two Main Layers - The EPIDERMIS and DERMIS.
EPIDERMIS
1. The OUTER most layer of Skin is known as the EPIDERMIS. It is composed of many sheets of
Flattened, Scaly Epithelial Cells. This is a thin outer layer of skin.
2. Its layers are made of Mostly DEAD CELLS.
3. Most of the cells of the Epidermis undergo rapid cell division (MITOSIS).
4. As new cells are produced, they push Older cells to the surface of the skin. The older cells
become Flattened, Lose their Cellular Contents and begin making KERATIN.
5. KERATIN IS A TOUGH FIBROUS PROTEIN AND FORMS THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF HAIR,
NAILS, AND CALLUSES.
6. In animals keratin forms cow horns, reptile scales, bird feathers, and porcupine quills.
7. Eventually, the Keratin-producing Cells (KERATINCYTES) DIE AND FORM A TOUGH, FLEXIBLE
WATERPROOF COVERING ON THE SURFACE OF THE SKIN. Our thickest Epidermis in on the
palms and soles.
8. THIS OUTER LAYER OF DEAD CELLS IS SHED OR WASHED AWAY ONCE EVERY 14 TO 28
DAYS.
9. The Epidermis contains MELANOCYTES, CELLS THAT PRODUCE MELANIN, A DARK BROWN
PIGMENT.
10. BOTH LIGHT SKINNED AND DARK SKINNED PEOPLE HAVE ROUGHLY THE SAME
NUMBER OF MELANOCYTES, THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR SKIN COLOR IS CAUSED BY THE
AMOUNT OF MELANIN THE MELANOCYTES PRODUCE AND DISTRIBUTE.
11. The Amount of Melanin produced in Skin depends on TWO Factors - Heredity and the Length of
Time the Skin is Exposed to Ultraviolet Radiation (Tanning).
12. Melanin is important for protection, by absorption of Ultraviolet Radiation from the sun. All
people, but especially people with Light Skin, need to minimize exposure to the sun and protect
themselves from its Ultraviolet Radiation, which can Damage DNA in Skin Cells and lead to deadly
forms of Skin Cancer such as MELANOMA CANCER.
13. THERE ARE NO BLOOD VESSELS IN THE EPIDERMIS, WHICH IS WHY A SMALL SCRATCH
WILL NOT CAUSE BLEEDING.
DERMIS
1. THE DERMIS IS THE INNERMOST THICK LAYER OF THE SKIN COMPOSED OF LIVING
CELLS.
2. The Dermis lies beneath the Epidermis and contains BLOOD VESSELS, NERVE ENDINGS,
GLANDS, SENSE ORGANS, SMOOTH MUSCLES, AND HAIR FOLLICLES.
3. The Dermis helps us to control our body temperature:
A. On a cold day when the body needs to conserve heat, the Blood Vessels in the Dermis
NARROW.
B. On hot days, the Blood Vessels WIDEN, warming the skin and increasing heat loss.
4. Tiny Muscle fibers attach to Hair Follicles contract and pull hair upright when you are cold or afraid,
producing what is commonly called Goose Bumps.
5. Beneath the Dermis is the HYPODERMIS, (SUBCUTANEOUS LAYER), A LAYER OF FAT AND
LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE THAT INSULATES THE BODY AND ACTS AS AN ENERGY
RESERVE.
6. The Dermis contains TWO major types of GLANDS: SWEAT GLANDS AND SEBACEOUS, OR
OIL GLANDS.
7. These Glands PASS through the Epidermis and RELEASE THEIR PRODUCTS AT THE
SURFACE OF THE SKIN.
8. SWEAT GLANDS PRODUCE THE WATERY SECRETIONS KNOWN AS SWEAT, WHICH
CONTAINS SALT, WATER, AND OTHER COMPOUNDS.
9. These secretions are stimulated by nerve impulses that cause the production of sweat when the
temperature of the body is raised. They help to cool the body.
10. SEBACEOUS GLANDS, (OIL GLANDS) PRODUCE OILY SECRETION KNOWN AS SEBUM
THAT SPREADS OUT ALONG THE SURFACE OF THE SKIN AND KEEPS THE KERATIN RICH
EPIDERMIS FLEXIBLE AND WATERPROOF.
11. The production of Sebum is controlled by Hormones.
12. Oil Glands are usually connected by Tiny Ducts (Exocrine Glands) to Hair Follicles. Sebum coats
the surface of the skin and the shafts of hair, preventing excess water loss and lubricating and
softening the Skin and Hair.
13. Sebum is mildly toxic to some Bacteria - protection.
14. If the Ducts of Oil Glands become clogged with excessive amounts of Sebum, Dead Cells, and
Bacteria, the Skin disorder ACNE can result.
15. When first wearing new shoes, the skin of the foot may be subject to friction. This will separate
layers of Epidermis, or separate the Epidermis from the Dermis, and tissue fluid may collect, causing
a BLISTER.
16. If the skin is subjected to pressure, the rate of mitosis will increase and create a thicker
Epidermis; we call this a CALLUS.
BURNS
1. FLAMES, HOT WATER OR STEAM,
SUNLIGHT, ELECTRICITY, OR
CORROSIVE CHEMICALS MAY CAUSE
BURNS OF THE SKIN.
2. THE SEVERITY OF BURNS RANGES
FROM MINOR TO FATAL AND THE
CLASSIFICATION OF BURNS IS BASED
ON THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE.
3. FIRST-DEGREE BURN- ONLY THE
SUPERFICIAL EPIDERMIS IS BURNED,
AND IS PAINFUL BUT NOT BLISTERED.
Causes death of Epidermal Cells.
4. SECOND-DEGREE BURN- DEEPER
LAYERS EPIDERMIS ARE EFFECTED,
COULD HAVE INFLAMMATION,
BLISTERS, AND THE BURNED SKIN IS OFTEN PAINFUL.
5. THIRD DEGREE BURN- THE ENTIRE EPIDERMIS IS CHARRED OR BURNED AWAY, AND
THE BURN MAY EXTEND INTO THE DERMIS. OFTEN SUCH A BURN IS NOT PAINFUL AT
FIRST, IF THE RECEPTORS IN THE DERMIS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.
6. EXTENSIVE THIRD-DEGREE BURN- POTENTIAL LIFE-THREATENING BECAUSE OF LOSS
OF SKIN, WITHOUT THIS NATURAL BARRIER, LIVING TISSUE IS EXPOSED TO THE
ENVIRONMENT AND IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO INFECTION AND DEHYDRATION.
HAIR AND NAILS
1. HAIR IS PRODUCED BY CELLS AT THE BASE OF
STRUCTURES CALLED HAIR FOLLICLES.
2. Hair Follicles are tubelike pockets of Epidermal Cells that
extend into the Dermis.
3. Individual hairs are actually large columns of DEAD Cells
that have filled with KERATIN..
4. Rapid cell growth at the base of the Hair Follicle in the
HAIR ROOT causes hair to grow longer. Hair gets its color
from Melanin.
5. Hair Follicles are in close contact with Sebaceous
Glands. The oily secretions of these Glands help maintain
the condition of each individual hair.
6. Hair protects and insulates the body.
7. Individual hairs grow for several years and then fall out.
8. NAILS GROW FROM AND AREA OF RAPIDLY DIVIDING CELLS KNOWN AS THE NAIL
MATRIX or NAIL ROOT.
9. THE NAIL MATRIX IS LOCATED NEAR THE TIPS OF THE FINGERS AND TOES.
10. During Cell division, the Cells fill with Keratin and produce a tough, strong platelike nail that
covers and Protects the tips of the fingers and toes.
11. Nails rest on a Bed of tissue
filled with Blood Vessels, giving
the nails a Pinkish Color.
12. Nails grow at a rate of 0.5 to
1.2 mm per day, with fingernails
growing faster than toenails.
1 Introduction
A. Organs are body structures composed of two or more different tissues.
B. The skin and its accessory organs make up the integumentary system.
2 Types of Membranes
A. Serous membranes line body cavities that lack openings to the outside.
1. They line the thorax and abdomen and cover the organs within these cavities.
2. Serous membranes are made up of epithelium and loose connective tissue and secrete
serous fluid that acts as a lubricant.
B. Mucous membranes line the cavities and openings that lead to the outside of the body,
including the oral and nasal cavities, and openings of the digestive, reproductive, respiratory, and
urinary systems. They consist of epithelium and connective tissue with specialized cells that
secrete mucus.
C. Synovial membranes line the joint cavities.
These membranes consist of connective tissue only that secretes lubricating synovial fluid.
D. The cutaneous membrane consists of the skin, and is the subject of the remainder of
this chapter.
3 Skin and Its Tissues
A. The skin is a large organ responsible for maintaining homeostasis through temperature
regulation, protection of underlying tissues, retardation of water loss, housing sensory
receptors, synthesizing certain chemicals, and excreting wastes.
B. The skin consists of an outer epidermis and a dermis, connected to underlying tissue by the
subcutaneous layer (hypodermis).
C. Epidermis
1. The epidermis is made up of stratified squamous epithelium and lacks blood vessels.
2. The layer of reproducing cells (the stratum basale), which lies at the base of the epidermis, is
well-nourished by dermal blood vessels.
3. Cells are pushed outward as new cells are formed, and become keratinized as they die.
4. The epidermis is important because it protects against water loss, mechanical injury,
chemicals, and microorganisms.
5. Melanocytes, which lie deep in the epidermis and underlying dermis, produce a pigment called
melanin that protects deeper cells from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
6. Melanocytes pass melanin to nearby cells through cytocrine secretion.
D. Skin Color
1. Skin color results from a combination of genetic, environmental, and physiological factors.
2. Genetic differences in skin color result from differing amounts of melanin and in the size of
melanin granules.
3. Exposure to sunlight causes darkening of skin as melanin production increases.
4. Circulation within dermal blood vessels affects skin color.
E. Dermis
1. The dermis binds the epidermis to underlying tissues.
2. The dermis consists of connective tissue with collagen and elastic fibers within a gel-like ground
substance.
3. Dermal blood vessels carry nutrients to upper layers of skin and help to regulate temperature.
4. The dermis also contains nerve fibers, sensory fibers, hair follicles, sebaceous glands,
and sweat glands.
F. Subcutaneous Layer
1. The subcutaneous layer (hypodermis) is composed of loose connective tissue and
insulating adipose tissue.
2. It binds the skin to underlying organs and contains the blood vessels that supply the skin.
3. No sharp boundary exists between the dermis and subcutaneous layer.
6.4 Accessory Organs of the Skin
A. Hair Follicles
1. Hair can be found in nearly all regions of the skin.
2. Individual hairs develop from cells at the base of the hair follicle, an invagination of the
lower epidermis that dips down into the dermis.
3. As new cells are formed, old cells are pushed outward and become keratinized,
forming the hair shaft.
4. A bundle of smooth muscle cells, called the arrector pili muscle, is attached to each hair follicle.
5. Hair color is determined by genetics; melanin from melanocytes is responsible for most hair
colors, but red hair also contains the pigment trichosiderin.
B. Sebaceous Glands
1. Sebaceous glands (holocrine glands) are associated with hair follicles and secrete sebum that
waterproofs and moisturizes the hair shafts.
C. Nails
1. Nails are protective coverings over the ends of fingers and toes.
2. Nails consist of stratified squamous epithelial cells overlying the nail bed, with the lunula as the
most actively growing region of the nail root.
3. As new cells are produced, older ones are pushed outward and become keratinized.
D. Sweat Glands
1. Sweat glands (sudoriferous glands) are either eccrine, which respond to body temperature, or
apocrine, which respond to body temperature, stress, and sexual arousal.
2. Modified sweat glands, called eruminous glands, secrete wax in the ear canal.
3. Mammary glands, another modified type of sweat glands, secrete milk.
6.5 Regulation of Body Temperature
A. Proper temperature regulation is vital to maintaining metabolic reactions.
B. The skin plays a major role in temperature regulation.
C. Active cells, such as those of the heart and skeletal muscle, produce heat.
D. Heat may be lost to the surroundings from the skin.
E. The body responds to excessive heat by dilation of dermal blood vessels and sweating.
F. The body responds to excessive cooling by constricting dermal blood vessels,
inactivating sweat glands, and shivering.
6.6 Healing of Wounds and Burns
A. Inflammation, in which blood vessels dilate and become more permeable, causing tissues
to become red and swollen, is the body's normal response to injury.
B. Superficial cuts are filled in by reproducing epithelial cells.
C. Deeper cuts are closed off by clots, covered by scabs, and eventually filled in by fibroblasts,
making connective tissue. Blood vessels extend into the area, injured tissues are replaced, and the
scab falls off.
D. Large wounds leave scars and healing may be accompanied by the formation of granulations.