Unit V: Integumentary system
The student will describe the structure and function of the cell types and layers of the epidermis, dermis, and
hypodermis and its derivatives to include glands, touch receptors, hair and nails; and recognize the basis of
infection, burns and skin cancer.
1) What is the integumentary system, and why do you have one?
a) In other words: Including the cutaneous membrane (skin) name all of the parts of the
integumentary system (includes hair, nails, glands, etc.), and describe the major functions of
this system (includes temperature control, protection from infection, protection from trauma,
etc.).
2) What are the three major layers of the skin?
a) Some consider the skin to have only two major layers: I want you to know these three layers:
epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous (also called hypodermis).
b) Know what each layer is basically made up of.
3) What are the five layers of the epidermis?
4) Describe the normal and pathological colors that the skin can have, and explain their causes.
a) What produces skin color?
b) Is there such a thing as biological human “races?”
c) How can we use the color of a person’s skin to help assess health, know each of these…
i) Cyanosis
ii) Erythema
iii) Pallor
iv) Albinism
v) Jaundice
vi) hematoma
5) Describe these common markings of the skin...
a) Friction ridges
b) Flexion lines
c) Freckles
d) Moles
e) Hemangiomas
6) Know the terms: pillus and pili
7) Distinguish between three types of hair…
a) Lanugo
b) Vellus
c) Terminal
8) Where on the body is hair found? Where is it not found?
9) Describe the histology of a hair, its follicle, and structures around the hair follicle…
a) Hair: Hair bulb, Hair matrix, Hair shaft
b) Hair follicle (the tube that the hair grows out of): sebaceous gland, hair receptors, pileorector
muscle.
10) Compare and contrast these differences in hair loss/abnormal hair growth…
a) Alopecia (this term just means hair loss)
b) Alopecia areata
c) Pattern baldness
d) Hirsutism
e) Hypertrichosis
11) describe the structure and function of nails…
a) Free edge
b) Nail body
c) nail fold
d) lunula (lots of mitosis happening here, causes the nail to grow
e) nail groove
f) eponychium (cuticle
g) nail bed
12) Name two types of sweat glands, and describe the basic structure and function of each as well as
distribution differences (where do we find each on the body?)…
a) Merocrine sweat glands (also called eccrine sweat glands)
b) Apocrine sweat glands
13) What is the basic function of sebaceous glands?
14) What is the basic function of ceruminous glands?
15) What is the difference between breasts and mammary glands?
16) What are the three most common forms of skin cancer? Which is the most deadly?
17) What does “ABCD” stand for when looking for malignant melanoma?
18) What layers of skin are affected with…
a) First degree burn
b) Second degree burn
c) Third degree burn
19) What are the first two major concerns with a large surface area burn, and how are they dealt with
medically?
20) The third major concern is maintaining body temperature.
a) One of the skin’s major jobs is to control the release of heat form the body. If we lose a large
area of skin heat leaves too quickly and hypothermia can result. Burn related hypothermia is
often dealt with by using heat lamps to help the person maintain body temp. Special blankets
can also be used to help regulate body temperature (the blanket has tubes running through it
and you can adjust the temperature of the fluid running through the tubes).