Chandler Barton

Anatomy
9/28/2017

Integumentary System Lab Report

The integumentary system is the organ system of the human body which is
composed of the skin and the organs in and around it. It is composed of multiple layers
of skin and is a crucial part our bodies. The integumentary system serves to protect our
inner organs and to regulate body temperature. Without our skin, we wouldnt be able to
survive.
The integumentary system is made up of many different organs. These include
the epidermis, dermis, hypodermis, and sweat glands. The epidermis is the outermost
layer of the the skin and made up of many smaller layers. The first layer of the epidermis
is the stratum corneum, which is significantly larger in size than the other layers. It is
followed by the stratum lucidum and stratum granulosum. Next is the stratum spinosum,
which is larger than the previous two layers by smaller than the stratum corneum. The
final layer of the epidermis is the stratum basale. A diagram of the skin can be seen in
figure 1.

fig. 1, diagram of layers of the skin

Sweat glands appear on the surface of the skin and serve the purpose of
releasing sweat from the body in order to cool the body. Different parts of the body have
higher or lower concentration of sweat glands. In an experiment conducted for this
report, it was found that there are many more sweat glands present on the hand relative
to the arm. This can point to differences in the makeup of these body parts. Diagrams of
these sweat glands can be seen in figure 2.

fig. 2, diagram of differing frequencies of sweat glands

Different parts of the skin found in different locations on the body also have
different sensitivities to touch. The differences in sensitivity are due to the brains
perceived of that body part to sensory perception. (Gardner, 2010) This can be
discovered using a two-point touch test. A two-point touch threshold test completed for
this report showed more sensitivity on fingertips, lips, and the palm of the hand, and less
sensitivity on the back of hand, back of neck, and forearm. These measurements can be
used to form a homunculus diagram. This diagram can be seen in figure 3.
 fig. 3, diagram of homunculus
The integumentary system is very important to helping the body survive. This can
be seen in a case study about a man who got lost looking for water in the desert. This
can cause many effects on the skin and its relationship with other parts of the body.
When the body is dehydrated, it is unable to sweat. It is also able to get severe burns
from the sun. These along with other effects on the integumentary system from
dehydration can be found in the case study diagram in figure 4.

fig. 4, diagram of case study

In conclusion, the integumentary system is a very important body system and is
crucial to survival. It protects the inner body parts from the elements and regulates body
temperature. It is a complex organ that helps our body in many ways. Without this organ
system our bodies would be extremely different and we would not be able to live.
 Works Cited

(n.d.). "Touch". In: Encyclopedia of Life Science - Wiley Online Library. Retrieved
September 28, 2017, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/npg.els.0000219/pdf