Exercise 2: Integuments

I. Introduction

The integumentary system is the organ system in animals that protects the body from damage, 
comprising the skin and its appendages (including hair, scales, feathers and nails). It is the largest organ 
system. It functions in many ways: it may serve to waterproof, cushion and protect the deeper tissues 
excrete wastes, regulate temperature and is the attachment site for sensory receptors to detect pain, 
sensation, pressure and temperature. It distinguishes, separates, protects and informs the animal with 
regard to its surroundings. Among the other systems in the body, the integumentary system plays one of 
the most important roles. 

• Objectives
> To determine the different integuments present in animals
> To know the functions of each integument

II. Materials and Methods

Microscope 
Slides with sample

1. Prepare the microscope and the slides with samples. 
2. View each sample properly and clearly using the right magnification. Try different 
magnifications to find the correct and suitable one to view the sample.
3. Draw the samples in a notebook or paper and specify the magnification used.
 A. Skin­ The integumentary system is a vital organ that covers the entire outside of the body,
forming a protective barrier against pathogens and injuries from the environment. One integuments in
animals is the skin. The skin is the largest organ in animals. It shields the body against heat, light,
injury, and infection. The skin also helps regulate body temperature, gathers sensory information from
the environment, stores water, fat, and nutrients, and plays a role in the immune system protecting
animals from disease. In amphibians their skin is merely a major respiratory organ. It is characterized
by a highly permeable skin that loses water through evaporation at almost equivalent rates to that of a
free water surface. It also has the ability to regulate moisture and air exchange.

B. Scales- Some animals, instead of having skin as a covering, have scales. This is mostly seen
in fishes, reptiles and some amphibians. Fish scales can be classifies according to their structure or
shape. Placoid scales or denticles are small outgrowths that cover the skin of many cartilaginous fish.
They are packed tightly together and grow with their tips facing backwards and gives the fish's skin a
rough feel for protection against predators; although in some sharks, they may also have a
hydrodynamic function. While in Ganoid scales, a layer of ganoin, a hard inorganic salt substance, lies
over the cosmine-like layer and under the enamel. They are diamond-shaped, shiny, and hard. Cycloid
scales have a smooth outer edge and are most common on more primitive fish with soft fin rays, such
as salmon and carp. Ctenoid scales have a toothed outer edge, and are usually found on more derived
fishes with spiny fin rays.

In reptiles, their scales have a lot of functions. The scales assist them in their movement or
locomotion. Scales also protect them against predators using camouflage and by their thick prickly
scales; it would be difficult for predators to attack. It also functions in water retention in which the
scales allow reptiles to retain moisture by preventing the evaporation of water through the skin. This
allows the animal to become dehydrated less frequently and require smaller amounts of water to
survive.

IV. Conclusion
 The integumentary system of animals is very important especially on their survival. It helps
them in number of ways. Scales also represent a source of calcium for fish; some fish will utilize the 
calcium in the scales in preference to the calcium in their skeleton during times of starvation or 
prespawning activity. In reptiles, scales function as protection, an aid in movement, for camouflage and 
for water retention. While amphibians like frogs have skin as their respiratory organ which enables 
them to breathe and regulate moisture. The skin also has some functions similar to scales. It shields the
body against heat, light, injury, infection and gather sensory information from the environment.

V. References

• http://www.cichlid­forum.com/articles/biology_of_fish.php
• http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Scale_(zoology)
• http://comenius.susqu.edu/bi/302/Lecture92003.htm
• http://marinelife.about.com/od/glossary/g/placoidscales.htm
• http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/full/209/2/202
• http://www.ehow.com/about_6610193_function­scales­reptiles_.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin
• http://database.portal.modwest.com/item.php?table=strategy&id=1105
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integumentary_system