Chapter 4: Integumentary System
Chapter Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter the participant will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Identify and describe the structures of the skin.
Discuss the functions of the skin.
Locate the structures of the skin on a diagram.
Analyze medical terms that are common to the skin
Define medical terms that are common to the skin
Spell medical terms that are common to the skin.
Pronounce medical terms that are common to the skin.
Successfully complete the review exercises at the end of the chapter.
To give this chapter the title of “The Skin” is technically incorrect because the skin is
only part of what will be discussed. The proper name that should be used is the
“integumentary system”. This term comes from a Latin word which means “covering”
and this system covers the body as a whole. Besides the skin we will also discuss the
related structures of the hair, glands and nails. An extension of the skin “the breast”
will also be discussed at this time. The breast, which is discussed in the next chapter,
will also be referred to later in the course when we consider the female reproductive
system.
Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin
The skin consists of a structure that has three distinct layers:
”
”
”
Epidermis
Dermis
Subcutaneous layer
Epidermis
”
”
”
”
”
Consists of epithelial cells that also line the body cavities and the organs.
Melanocytes are the cells in the skin that give it color. The reason for the
color is the presence of a pigment called melanin. The more melanin you
have the darker your skin will be.
The skin is made tough, waterproof and resistant to infection by the
presence of a protein called keratin.
There are no blood vessels or nerves in this layer. Relies on the layers
below it for nourishment.
Outermost layer of the skin.
Revised September 2001
39-
Hair shaft
Pore
Epidermis
Dermis
Sebaceous
(oil) gland
Subcutaneous
Layer
Hair follicle
Sudoriferous
(sweat) gland
Vein
Artery
Nerve
Dermis
”
”
”
”
”
Layer of skin directly below the epidermis.
Composed of blood and lymph vessels, nerve fibers, and the accessory
organs of the skin.
Blood vessels in this layer bring the nutrients to the skin.
Blood vessels also help control the body temperature by dilating and
allowing heat to escape when the body is hot and by constricting and
preventing loss of heat when it is cold.
Contains cells that allow it to be strong (fibroblasts), destroy bacteria
(macrophages) and act against foreign bodies (mast cells and plasma
cells)
Subcutaneous Tissue
Revised September 2001
41-
”
”
”
Layer of connective tissue that is not really part of the skin.
Connects the dermis layer to the muscles and organs that are below.
Contains fat that insulates the body parts below.
Related Organs
”
”
”
Hair
Nails
Glands (Sebaceous and Sweat)
”
”
”
”
Rod like fibers that are made up of dead protein cells filled with keratin.
Grows from hair follicles. These are shafts or sacs that hold the hair fiber.
The combining forms pil/o and pil/i.
Color depends on the melanin that is present in the hair fiber. With aging
there is a decrease in the amount of melanin we produce that explains
why our hair turns gray.
”
”
Consist of epithelial cells that have been keratinized.
The combining forms ungu/o and onych/o mean nails.
Hair
Nails
Sebaceous Gland
”
”
”
Glands that secrete an oily substance known as sebum. This substance
lubricates the skin and because it has an acid property it discourages
growth of bacteria.
Located in the dermal layer and are closely associated with the hair
follicles.
The combining form for the sebum produced by these glands is seb/o.
Sweat Gland
”
”
”
”
”
Tiny coiled gland found on almost all body surfaces. Numerous in the
palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
Ducts from these glands open onto the surface of the skin through pores.
Sweat, which is 99% water, is secreted by these glands. This allows for
the body to get rid of extra water and to cool as sweat is evaporated.
The other term for sweat gland is “sudoriferous” gland.
The combining form for sweat is hidr/o.
Word Parts for the Integumentary System
Revised September 2001
42-
Roots
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
”
albin/o
adip/o, lip/o, steat/o
bi/o
cry/o
cyan/o
derm/o; dermat/o; cutane/o
diaphor/e
epitheli/o
erythemat/o; erythr/o, erythem/o
hidr/o
hist/o, histi/o
kerat/o; keratin/o
leuk/o
melan/o
myc/o
necr/o
onych/o; ungu/o
pil/o, pil/i
py/o
seb/o
vascul/o
white
fat
life
cold
blue
skin
profuse sweating
covering
red, redness
sweat
tissue
hard; hornlike
white
black
fungus
death
nail
hair
pus
sebum
vessel
epi-
upon, above, on
-derma
-oma
-phagia
-therapy
skin
tumor, mass
eating
treatment
Prefixes
”
Suffixes
”
”
”
”
Revised September 2001
42-
Term Analysis and Definition
Word Part
Term
Term Analysis
Definition
albin/o
alb/o
albinism
albin = white
-ism = condition
Condition where there is a lack
of pigment in the skin, hair and
eyes. Appear very white.
adip/o
lip/o
steat/o
adipose
adip = fat
-ose = pertaining to
Pertaining to fat
lipoma
-oma = tumor
lip = fat
Tumor or mass containing fat.
bi/o
skin biopsy
bi = life
-opsy = to view
Removal of skin for
microscopic examination
cyan/o
cyanotic
cyan = blue
-tic = pertaining to
Pertaining to a bluish
discoloration of the skin.
derm/o
dermat/o
cutane/o
dermatitis
dermat = skin
-itis = inflammation
Inflammation of the skin.
dermatology
derm = skin
-logy = study
The study of the skin and its
diseases.
dermatologist
dermat = skin
-logist = one who
studies
One who specializes in the
study of the skin and its
diseases.
hypodermic
hypo = under,
below
-ic = pertaining to
derm = skin
Pertaining to below the skin.
subcutaneous
sub = under
cutane = skin
-ous = pertaining to
Pertaining to under the skin.
diaphor/e
diaphoresis
diaphor = profuse
sweating
is = condition
Condition where there is
profuse sweating.
epitheli/o
epithelial
epithel = covering
-al = pertaining to
Pertaining to the epithelium.
epithelium
epithel = covering
-um = structure
Structure made up of epithelial
cells
Revised September 2001
43-
Word Part
Term
Term Analysis
Definition
erythr/o
erythemat/o
erythem/o
erythema
erythr = red
Red discoloration of the skin.
erythematous
erythemat = red
-ous = pertaining to
Pertaining to a redness of the
skin.
hidr/o
anhidrosis
-osis = abnormal
condition
a(n) = no, lack of
hidr = sweat
Abnormal condition where
there is a lack of sweat.
hyperhidrosis
hyper = excessive
Abnormal condition where
there is excessive secretion of
sweat.
hyperkeratosis
hyper = excessive
-osis = abnormal
condition
kerat = hard,
hornlike
Excessive growth of the horny
layer of the skin.
keratinocyte
-cyte = cell
Cell that produces keratin.
leuk/o
leukoderma
leuk = white
-derma = skin
Lack of pigment in the skin
which shows up as white
patches.
melan/o
melanocyte
melan = black
-cyte = cell
Cell that produces melanin.
necr/o
necrotic
necr = death
-tic = pertaining to
Pertaining to death (of tissue)
onych/o
ungu/o
onychomycosis
onych = nail
-osis = abnormal
condition
myc/o = fungus
Fungal infection of the nail
periungual
peri- = around
-al = pertaining to
Pertaining to around the nail
pil/o
pil/i
pilosebaceous
pilo- = hair
seb = sebum, oil
-ous = pertaining to
Pertaining to the hair follicles
and the sebaceous glands
py/o
pyoderma
py = pus
-derma = skin
Any pus-producing disease of
the skin.
pyogenic
- genic = producing
Pus producing.
kerat/o
keratin/o
Revised September 2001
44-
Word Part
Term
Term Analysis
Definition
seb/o
seborrhea
seb = sebum
-rrhea = flow,
discharge
Increased discharge of sebum
from the sebaceous glands.
vascul/o
avascular
a- = no, lack of
vascul = vessel
ar = pertaining to
Pertaining to lack of blood
vessels.
epi-
epidermis
epi = upon, above
dermis = dermis
Above the dermis
-oma
adenoma
aden = gland
-oma = tumor
Tumor of a gland.
carcinoma
carcin = cancerous
-oma = tumor
Malignant/cancerous tumor.
hemangioma
hem = blood
angi = vessel
-oma = tumor
Tumor of the blood vessels.
melanoma
melan = black
-oma = tumor
Tumor of the melanin in the
skin.
cryotherapy
cry = cold
therapy = treatment
Treatment that involves use of
cold as its basis.
-therapy
Summary Exercises Chapter 4
Exercise 4.1
Select the option that best answers the question.
1.
Which structure provides insulation and connects the dermis to the underlying
structures?
1.
Subcutaneous tissue
2.
Epidermis
3.
Muscle tissue
2.
Which term means inflammation of the tissue around the nail?
1.
Subonychitis
2.
Interunguitis
3.
Paraunguitis
4.
Perionychitis
Revised September 2001
45-
3.
Which layer of the skin contains blood vessels, nerve fibers and related organs of
the skin?
1.
Dermis
2.
Epidermis
3.
Subcutaneous layer
4.
Which term describes the removal of living tissue for microscopic examination?
1.
Biopsy
2.
Electrolysis
3.
Cryotherapy
5.
Which term means fungal infection of the nail?
1.
Onychomycosis
2.
Dermatomycosis
3.
Pyoderma
6.
Which of the following terms means covering?
1.
Epidermis
2.
Integumentum
3.
Subcutaneous
7.
Which term means a state of profuse sweating?
1.
Seborrhea
2.
Anhidrosis
3.
Diaphoresis
8.
The sebaceous glands are located in which layer of the skin?
1.
Dermis
2.
Epidermis
3.
Subcutaneous layer
Exercise 4.2
Fill in the blank with the correct response.
1.
The medical term for a tumor in a gland is______________________________.
2.
A rash that is characterized by red discoloration of the skin is_______________.
3.
A pus producing disease is referred to as_______________________________.
4.
__________________ are the glands that secrete an oily substance in the skin.
5.
The epidermis does not contain blood vessels. This is referred to as being
______________________.
6.
The medical term for inflammation of the skin is__________________________.
7.
A specialist who treats diseases of the skin is referred to as a_______________.
Revised September 2001
46-
8.
________________ is a condition where there is a deficiency of pigment in the skin.
9.
The two layers of skin are the __________________ and _____________________.
10.
The primary component of hair and nails is________________________________.
Exercise 4.3
Define the following word parts.
1.
Albin/o
________________________________________________________
2.
Cutane/o
________________________________________________________
3.
Dermat/o
________________________________________________________
4.
Myc/o
________________________________________________________
5.
Ungu/o
________________________________________________________
6.
Melan/o
________________________________________________________
7.
Lip/o
________________________________________________________
8.
Erythr/o
________________________________________________________
9.
Seb/o
________________________________________________________
10.
Hidr/o
________________________________________________________
Challenge Exercise
Using the word parts contained in Chapters 3 and 4 build the medical terms
appropriate to the definition provided.
1.
Abnormal softening of the nails is known as _____________________________.
2.
A/an ____________________________________ tumor arises from the nail bed.
3.
The term that means pertaining to the absence of fingernails or toenails is
________________________________________________________________.
4.
An abnormal condition resulting in the diminished flow of perspiration is known as
________________________________________________________________.
5.
______________________ is surgery to change the shape or size of the nose.
Revised September 2001
45-
6.
The branch of medicine concerned with the study of the skin is known as
_______________________________________________________________.
7.
When the prefix endo- is added to the root for skin what is the definition of the
word produced?
_________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
8.
The roots that can be used to refer to the skin are:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________.
Revised September 2001
46-