CHAPTER 5: INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
rigid and durable.
Integumentary System
- consists of the skin and accessory structures such as
hair, glands, and nails.
2. DERMIS – layer of dense connective tissue.
- covers the outside of the body and is easily observed.
Major Functions of the Integumentary System:
1. Protection. Provides protection against abrasion and
ultraviolet light.
2. Sensation. Can detect heat, cold, touch, pressure and
pain.
3. Temperature regulation. Amount of blood flow
beneath the skin’s surface & activity of sweat glands
that help regulate body temperature.
4. Vitamin D production. Important regulator of
calcium homeostasis.
5. Excretion. Waste products are lost through the skin
& in gland secretions.
SKIN
- made up of two major tissue layers: epidermis and
dermis:
1. EPIDERMIS – most superficial layer of skin.
– epithelial tissue that rests on the dermis.
– prevents water loss & resists abrasion.
– stratified squamous epithelium.
Process:
 New cells are produced by mitosis.
 As new cells form, they push older cells to
the surface.
 During their movement, cells change shape
and chemical composition. It undergoes
keratinization where cells become filled ith
protein keratin which makes them more
 As keratinization proceeds, epithelial cells
die & form dead skin cells.
– 10 to 20 times thicker than the epidermis.
– responsible for most of the skin’s structural
strength.
– rest on the subcutaneous tissue, layer of
connective tissue.
 Subcutaneous tissue is not part of the
skin, connect the skin to underlying
muscle or bone.
ANALOGY: Subcutaneous – foundation of the
house, Dermis – most of the house Epidermis –
roof
– Nerves, hair follicles, smooth muscles,
glands, and lymphatic vessels extend into the
dermis.
 Collagen and elastic fibers – responsible
for the structural strength of the dermis.
It can resist stretch.
 Some collagen fibers are oriented more
directions than others, forming cleavage
lines.
 Cleavage lines, or tension lines, in the
skin, are more resistant to stretch.
 An incision made parallel with these
lines tends to gap less and produce less scar
tissue.
 If the skin is overstretched for any
reason, the dermis can be damaged, leaving
stretch marks.
 Dermis Papillae – upper part of the
dermis that has projection.
 Contains many blood vessels,
supplies overlying epidermis with
nutrients.
 Removes waste products
 Helps regulate body temperature.
REMEMBER: Injection delivers substances in the body
by puncturing the skin.

1. Intradermal injection – drawing the skin taut and

inserting a small needle at a shallow angle into the
dermis.

Example: Tuberculin skin test.

2. Subcutaneous injection – pinching the skin to form a

“tent” and inserting a short needle in the adipose tissue
of the subcutaneous tissue.

Example: Insulin injection

3. Intramuscular injection – inserting a long needle at a

90-degree angle to the skin into a muscle deep to the
subcutaneous tissue.

Example: Vaccines and certain antibiotics

SKIN COLOR