Integumentary system

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"Integument" redirects here; in botany, an integument refers to an outer membrane of an ovule, which
later develops into a seed coat.

The integumentary system is the organ system that protects the body from damage, comprising
the skin and its appendages[2][3] (including hair, scales,feathers, and nails). The integumentary system has
a variety of functions; it may serve to waterproof, cushion, and protect the deeper tissues, excrete wastes,
and regulate temperature, and is the attachment site for sensory receptors to detect pain, sensation,
pressure, and temperature. In most terrestrial vertebrates with significant exposure to sunlight, the
integumentary system also provides for vitamin D synthesis.

[edit]Layers of the skin

The integumentary system is the largest organ in the body organ system. In humans, this system accounts
for about 12 to 15 percent of total body weight and covers 1.5-2m2 of surface area.[4] It distinguishes,
separates, protects and informs the regard to its surroundings. Small-bodied invertebrates of aquatic or
continually moist habitats respire using the outer layer (integument). This gas exchange system, where
gases simply diffuse into and out of the interstitial fluid, is called integumentary exchange.

The human skin (integumentary) is composed of a minimum of 3 major layers of tissue, the Epidermis,
the Dermis and Hypodermis. The Dermis comprises two sections, the Papillary and Reticular layers; they
contain connective tissues, vessels, glands, follicles, hair roots, sensory nerve endings, and muscular
tissue.[5] The third layer is the Hypodermis and it is made up of adipose tissue.

[edit]Epidermis

Main article: Epidermis

This is the top layer of skin made up of epithelial cells. It does not contain blood vessels. Its main function
is protection, absorption of nutrients, and homeostasis. In structure, it consists of a keratinized
stratified squamous epithelium comprising four types of cells: keratinocytes, melanocytes, Merkel cells,
and Langerhans' cells. The major cell of the epidermis is the keratinocyte, which produces
keratin. Keratin is a fibrous protein that aids in protection. Keratin is also a water-proofing protein. Millions
of dead keratinocytes rub off daily. The majority of the skin on the body is keratinized,
meaning waterproofed. The only skin on the body that is non-keratinized is the lining of skin on the inside
of the mouth. Non-keratinized cells allow water to "stay" atop the structure.
The protein keratin stiffens epidermal tissue to form fingernails. Nails grow from thin area called the nail
matrix; growth of nails is 1-mm per week on average. The lunula is the crescent-shape area at the base of
the nail, this is a lighter colour as it mixes with the matrix cells.

[edit]Dermis

Main article: Dermis

The dermis is the middle layer of skin, composed of dense irregular connective tissues such as collagen
with elastin arranged in a diffusely bundled and woven pattern. These layers serve to give elasticity to the
integument, allowing stretching and conferring flexibility, while also resisting distortions, wrinkling, and
sagging.[5] The dermal layer provides a site for the endings of blood vessels and nerves.
Many chromatophores are also stored in this layer, as are the bases of integumental structures such
as hair, feathers, and glands.

[edit]Functions

The integumentary system has multiple roles in homeostasis. All body systems work in an interconnected
manner to maintain the internal conditions essential to the function of the body. The skin has an important
job of protecting the body and acts as the bodys first line of defense against infection, temperature
change, and other challenges to homeostasis. Functions include:

Protect the bodys internal living tissues and organs

Protect against invasion by infectious organisms

Protect the body from dehydration

Protect the body against abrupt changes in temperature, maintain homeostasis

Help excrete waste materials through perspiration

Act as a receptor for touch, pressure, pain, heat, and cold (see Somatosensory system)

Protect the body against sunburns by secreting melanin

Generate vitamin D through exposure to ultraviolet light

Store water, fat, glucose, and vitamin D

Maintenance of the body form

Formation of new cells from stratum germinativum to repair minor injuries

Aid in physical examination as color of the skin may indicate many conditions e.g.it becomes yellowish
in jaundice
[edit]Diseases and injuries
Possible diseases and injuries to the human integumentary system include:
 Rash

Blister

Athlete's foot

Infection

Sunburn

Skin cancer

Albinism

Acne

Herpes

Cold Sores

Mosquito Bites

Impetigo

Rubella

STD

Cancer
The integument as an organ: The integument as an organ, and is an alternative name for skin. The
integumentary system includes the skin and the skin derivatives hair, nails, and glands. The integument is
the bodys largest organ and accounts for 15% of body weight.

The derivatives of the integument:

Hair: functions include protection & sensing light touch.

Hair is composed of columns of dead, keratinized cells bound together by extracellular proteins. Hair has
two main sections: The shaft- superficial portion that extends out of the skin and the root- portion that
penetrates into the dermis. Surrounding the root of the hair is the hair follicle. At the base of the hair
follicle is an onion-shaped structure called the bulb Papilla of the hair and the matrix within the bulb
produce new hair.

Nails: participate in the grasp & handling of small things.

Nails are plates of tightly packed, hard, keratinized epidermal cells.

The nail consists of:

nail root: -the portion of the nail under the skin,

nail body: -the visible pink portion of the nail, the white crescent at the base of the nail
is the lunula, the hyponychium secures the nail to the finger, the cuticle or eponychium is
a narrow band around the proximal edge of the nail and
free edge: -the white end that may extend past the finger.

Glands: participate in regulating body temperature.

There are three main types of glands associated with the integument:

Sebaceous - Oil glands. Located in the dermis, and secrete sebum.

Sudoriferous - Sweat glands. Divided into two main types:
 o Eccrine - Most common, main function is regulation of body temperature by
evaporation, and
o Apocrine - Responsible for cold sweat associated with stress.
Ceruminous Lie in subcutaneous tissue below the dermis, secrete cerumen (ear wax)
into ear canal or sebaceous glands.

Functions of the skin:

Thermoregulation - Evaporation of sweat & Regulation of blood flow to the dermis.

Cutaneous sensation - Sensations like touch, pressure, vibration, pain, warmth or coolness.
Vitamin D production - UV sunlight & precursor molecule in skin make vitamin D.
Protection The sin acts as a physical barrier.
Absorption & secretion The skin is involved in the absorption of water-soluble molecules and
excretion of water and sweat.
Wound healing - When a minor burn or abrasion occurs basal cells of the epidermis break away
from the basement membrane and migrate across the wound. They migrate as a sheet, when
the sides meet the growth stops and this is called contact inhibition.
In deep wound healing - A clot forms in the wound, blood flow increases and many cells move to
the wound. The clot becomes a scab; granulation tissue fills the wound and intense growth of
epithelial cells beneath the scab. The scab falls off and the skin returns to normal thickness.

The Two Layers of Skin:

Epidermis The Epidermis is the thinner more superficial layer of the skin.
The epidermis is made up of 4 cell types:

(A) Keratinocytes Produce keratin protein a fibrous protein that helps protect the epidermis
(B) Melanocytes - produces the brown pigment melanin
(C) Langerhan Cells participate in immune response and
(D) Merkel cells - participates in the sense of touch.

There are five distinct sub-layers of the Epidermis:

1. Stratum corneum: the outermost layer, made of 25-30 layers of dead flat keratinocytes.
Lamellar granules provide water repellent action and are continuously shed & replaced.
2. Stratum lucidum: Only found in the fingertips, palms of hands, & soles of feet. This
layer is made up of 3-5 layers of flat dead keratinocytes.
3. Stratum granulosum: made up of 3-5 layers of keratinocytes, site of keratin formation,
keratohyalin gives the granular appearance.
4. Stratum spinosum: appears covered in thornlike spikes, provide strength & flexibility to
the skin.
5. Stratum basale: The deepest layer, made up of a single layer of cuboidal or columnar
cells. Cells produced here are constantly divide & move up to apical surface.

Dermis: is the deeper, thicker layer composed of connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, glands and
hair follicles.

The epidermis contains 3 cell types:

o Adipocytes,
o Macrophages and
o Fibroblasts.
There are two main divisions of the dermal layer:
o Papillary region - The superficial layer of the dermis, made up of loose areolar
 connective tissue with elastic fibers.
o Dermal papillae - Fingerlike structures invade the epidermis, contain capillaries or
Meissner corpuscles which respond to touch.
Reticular region of the Dermis Made up of dense irregular connective & adipose tissue,
contains sweat lands, sebaceous (oil) glands, & blood vessels.

The integument as an organ:

The two layers of the integument (skin)

The derivatives of the integument
o Hair
o Nails
o Glands

Functions of the skin:

Thermoregulation
Cutaneous sensation
Vitamin D production
Protection
Absorption & secretion
Wound healing

The Two Layers of Skin:

Epidermis cells and layers.

Dermis cells and layers.

The integumantary system contains the largest organ in the human body, the skin. It
is also comprised of such extensions of the skin as hair and fingernails. The skin,
however, is the most important of these. The skin protects and cushions the body's
delicate organs. It also provides the body a physical barrier to keep out foreign
materials and to prevent the body from drying out. The skin is made of three
separate layers, each with its own particular function.

The Epidermis

The epidermis, as its name suggests, is the outermost layer of the skin. It is
comprised of four separate layers of epithelial tissue. The outermost layer of the
epidermis is the stratum corneum. It is approximately 20-30 cells thick. The cells here
are completely keratinized and dead, and this is what gives the skin its waterproof
quality. The next two layers, the stratum granulosum and the stratum lucidum, are
siimilar in that they represent an intermediate stage of keratinization. The cell here
are not fully keratinized yet, but as the growth of the skin pushes them outward,
they will increasingly move towards that state. The deepest layer of the epidermis is
the stratum germinativum. The cells here are mitotically active-- that is, they are
alive and reproducing. This is where the growth of skin takes place.

The Dermis

The dermis is the second layer of skin, directly beneath the epidermis. Unlike the
epidermis, the dermis has its own blood supply. Because of the presence of this
blood supply, more complex structures are able to exist here. Sweat glands are
present to collect water and various wastes from the bloodstream, and excrete them
through pores in the epidermis. The dermis is also the site of hair roots, and it is here
where the growth of hair takes place. By the time hair reaches the environment
outside of the skin, it is completely dead. The dermis also contains dense connective
tissue, made of collagen fibers, which gives the skin much of its elasticity and
strength.

The Subcutaneous Layer

Beneath the dermis lies the final layer of skin, the subcutaneous layer. The most
notable structures here are the large groupings of adipose tissue. The main function
of the subcutaneous layer is therefore to provide a cushion for the delicate organs
lying beneath the skin. It also functions to insulate the body to maintain body
temperature.

The integument or skin is the largest organ in the body. It is composed of two layers
and contains many different types of appendages, including hair, nails, and several
kinds of glands. The layers of the skin include: (1) an outer layer of stratified
squamous keratinized epithelium, the epidermis and (2) an inner layer of dense
irregular connective tissue, the dermis. These two layers sit upon
the subcutaneous tissue, which is composed of loose connective tissue, adipose
tissue, and dense connective tissue (Skin). Skin is classified into two types based on
the thickness of the epidermis and keratin layer. Thick skin is found on the palms of
the hands and soles of the feet (Thick Skin). Thin skin covers the rest of the body
(Thin Skin).
Thick Skin
The epidermis of thick skin follows the contours of the dermal ridges, producing
the epidermal ridges of the fingerprint. The dermal ridges penetrate into the
epidermis as true papillae, and are separated by epithelial downgrowths
called interpapillary pegs (Thick Skin 1). Five layers of cells or cell products are
found in the epidermis: (1) stratum germinativum, columnar basal stem cells;
(2) stratum spinosum, polyhedral cells with "spiny" projections:
(3) stratum granulosum, diamond shaped cells containing keratohyalin granules;
(4) stratum lucidum, a clear, homogenous line composed of eleidin, a keratohyalin
transformation product (not always seen); and (5) stratum corneum, the keratin
filled squames (Thick Skin 2).

Dermis
The dermis is composed of two layers: (1) the papillary dermis closest to the
epithelium, is composed of less dense connective tissue and is vascularized with
capillary networks penetrating the papillae and (2) the underlying reticular
dermis composed of avascular, dense irregular connective tissue (Dermis).

Subcutaneous Layer
Beneath the dermis, a layer composed of adipose and loose/dense connective tissues
make of the subcutaneous layer. Numerous structures are found in this layer. The
secretory portion of the eccrine sweat glands are found here, with their ducts
penetrating the dermis to enter the epidermis through the interpapillary pegs
(Subcutaneum). Also, sensory structures (pacinian corpuscles), nerve bundles, blood
vessels, and the bases of hair follicles are found in the subcutaneous layer.

Thin Skin
The epidermis differs from that of thick skin in having thinner stratum spinosum,
granulosum, and corneum, and lacks the stratum lucidum (Thin Skin 1). The dermis is
not arranged in ridges, but does project into the epidermis as true papillae. However,
no epidermal ridges are produced (Thin Skin 2). The pigment of the skin is produced
by melanocytes, which take up residence in the basal layer (stratum germinativum)
and produce melanin or pigment granules (Melanocytes).

Hair Follicles
Hair follicles are formed when the epidermis grows down into the dermis. The deepest
portion of the hair follicle is composed only of stratum germinativum cells and is
called the germinal matrix of the follicle. It sits upon a papillae of connective tissue.
It is from this portion that the hair shaft is produced. The epidermal down-growth
between the germinal matrix and the skin surface, forms a canal, the external root
sheath (Hair 1). Severalsebaceous glands are found associated with the hair follicle,
usually along the upper one-third of the external root sheath. Also in this area are
the arrector pili muscles (Hair 2). The sebaceous gland cells secrete via rupture,
releasing oil. Thus the gland maintains a stem cell population and a gradient from
immature to mature, oil filled cells is observed (Hair 3). The growth of the hair shaft
from the germinal matrix begins by forming the layers of keratin producing cells
called the internal root sheath (Hair 4). The hair shaft, composed of three keratinized
layers travels within the external root sheath towards the surface of the skin (Hair 5).