Integument system

What is the Integument?

• The INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM includes all the structures and tissues
related to the skin.
• This includes:
1. skin
a. Epidermis
b. Dermis
2. accessory organs
a. Hair
b. Nails
c. Glands
Integument system
• The skin covers the entire body and provides protection against
injuries, infection, and toxic compounds.

• The system contains many nerve endings that act as

RECEPTORS for pain, temperature, touch, and pressure.
 Skin…
The skin is the exterior
covering of the body. It
weighs more than 6
pounds in the average
adult, and covers more
than 3,000 square inches.
It is the largest organ of
the body. It is supplied
with blood vessels and
nerves.
 Functions of skin… The skin provides
protection. It
protects against
invasion by
bacteria and
other harmful
agents. It protects
delicate cells
beneath the
surface from
injury.
It inhibits excessive loss of water and electrolytes.
It produces a protective pigmentation to protect the
body against excessive exposure from the sun. It
helps produce the body’s supply of Vitamin D.
 The skin
Functions of skin… regulates
body
temperature.
When the
body is too
cold, the
skin’s blood
vessels
When the body is too hot, the constrict. This
blood vessels in the skin dilate. allows more
That brings more blood to the heat-carrying
surface for cooling by radiation. At blood to
the same time, sweat glands circulate to
secrete more sweat that cools the the muscles
body when it evaporates. and organs.
Functions of skin… The skin provides
sensations.
It contains millions
of nerve endings
that act as sensory
receptors for pain,
heat, cold, and
pressure. When
stimulation occurs,
nerve impulses are
sent to the cerebral
cortex of the brain…
and the brain
triggers any
necessary response.
 Physiology of the Skin
• Protection - the epidermis provides a barrier to fluid loss from
the body (this protective function is impaired in patients with
burns).
• barrier function - intact skin prevents the entry of micro-
organisms into the body. Antimicrobial proteins are produced
by the epidermis - they act by piercing holes in the outer
membranes of micro-organisms.
• Resistance to wear and tear - continuous replacement of
the outer epidermal cells that wear off - new cells are
produced in the deepest layer of the epidermis and
gradually migrate towards the surface
• Skin can excrete water, salt, and small amounts of waste products
such as urea.

• Vitamin D can be synthesized in skin exposed to sunlight (vitamin

D can also be obtained from the diet)

• The skin provides a barrier to ultraviolet light. The melanocytes

contain melanin, which absorbs UV radiation, and also distribute
the pigment to neighboring cells. Skin exposed to sunlight becomes
wrinkled and creased. Changes seem to be due to disruption of
collagen and elastin in dermis, and loss of fibroblasts which make
new proteins.
• Three types of skin cancer corresponding to three major types of
skin cells: basal cells, squamous cells, and melanocytes.
• Cancer of melanocytes - malignant melanoma - is the most lethal
variety, but also the least common.
• If caught early, most cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are
easily treated under local anaesthetic
• Whites in Australia have the highest rates of skin cancer of all
types in the world.
• The damaging effects of sunlight can occur many years before
tumors appear.
• ultraviolet light causes mutations at points on a DNA strand.
• The integumentary system is well-supplied with receptors for
touch, pain, temperature, vibration and pressure
• Sensory information is relayed to the central nervous system
via sensory nerves
• Social interactions are influenced by facial expressions,
blushing, touching, etc.
 Anatomy of the Skin
• Upper layer of skin is called EPIDERMIS
EPI- means on top of
DERMIS means skin

• The lower layer of skin is called the DERMIS.

Epidermis… The skin has two layers… the
epidermis and the dermis.
The epidermis actually has 4
străta…

Stratum corneum
The stratum corneum
(STRĂT um KOR nee um) is
the outermost strata of
the epidermis. It is
mostly dead cells, filled
with a protein substance
called keratin. It is
thicker on the soles of
the feet than on the
eyelids…where there is
less pressure.
 The Epidermis

• Is multilayered.
• Contains is superficial layer of dead skin cells called STRATUM
CORNEUM.
• The stratum corneum is composed of cells called KERATIN.
• Is AVASCULAR (no blood vessels)
• Has no nerve tissue (can’t feel pain)
Epidermis…
The stratum lucidum
(LOO seh dum) is a

Stratum lucidum
translucent layer
lying directly
beneath the
corneum. It may not
even exist in thinner
skin. Cells in this
layer are also dead
or are in the process
of dying.
Epidermis…
The stratum granulosum
(grăn yū LŌ sum) is one

Stratum granulosum
or more layers of cells
starting to die and
become hard. They are
in the process of
keratinization…
(kare ah tin ī ZĀ shun)
becoming fibrous protein
similar to that in hair and
nails.
Epidermis… The stratum germinativum
(jer mah nah TĪV um) is
composed of several
layers of living cells
capable of cell division. It
is the innermost layer of

Stratum germinativum
the epidermis, and
contains melanin… the
pigment that gives color to
the skin. The more
abundant the melanin…
the darker the skin color.
Damage to this layer, such
as in severe burns,
requires skin grafts.
 The Dermis

• Has two distinct layers:

1. Papillary Layer (more superficial)
2. Reticular Layer (deeper)
• Accessory organs begin the dermis.
• Some of the accessory organs end or cross into the epidermis.
• The dermis contains blood vessels and nerve tissue.
 The dermis…
The dermis
is beneath
the
epidermis
and is
composed
of
connective
tissue.
It contains the lymphatics, nerves, nerve endings,
blood vessels, sebaceous and sweat glands,
elastic fibers, and hair follicles.
 The dermis…
The dermis is divided into
two layers…
1. the papillary layer
(PĂP ah lair ee) is arranged
into microscopic structures
that form ridges. These are
the finger- and footprints
2. The reticular layer
(ruh TĬK yoo ler) is
beneath the papillary
layer; it is a white fibrous
tissue that supports the
blood vessels
The dermis… The dermis is connected to
underlying tissue by the
The subcutaneous tissue.
subcutaneous
tissue or
hypodermis is
composed of
adipose and
connective
tissue. It
supports,
nourishes,
insulates, and
cushions the
skin. HYPODERMIS
 Red and Yellow, Black and White…
• The red and yellow hues of the skin are due to hemoglobin in the red blood
cells, which pass through the capillaries beneath the epidermis, and carotene
(yellowish pigment), which accumulates in fat cells found in the dermis and
hypodermis (subcutaneous layer beneath dermis).
• Melanocytes
• The brown in skin color is due to melanin, which is produced in the skin
itself in cells called melanocytes. These cells are located in the epidermis.
In the melanocytes, the melanin is located in membrane-bound organelles
called melanosomes. Melanocytes can transfer melanin to keratinocytes -
mainly to the basal cells. Melanin protects the chromosomes of
mitotically active basal cells against light-induced damage.
• Pigmentation is not just under the control of light. Hormones produced
by the pituitary and the adrenal glands also affect pigmentation. Diseases
of these two endocrine organs often result in changes of pigmentation of
the skin.
Subcutaneous Fat and Superficial Fascia
• The SubQ fat is found deep to the dermis.
• It contains the larger blood vessels of the skin.
• It is composed of adipose (fat) tissue, a form of connective tissue.
• Deep to the subQ layer is the fascial layer that covers the muscles
beneath.
• Remember, the dermis contains the hair follicles, sweat glands, and
sebaceous glands (oil glands)
 Count…
The term “diaphoresis” is meant to denote excessive sweating.

The combining form for sweat is hidr/o

Hidrosis is an abnormal condition of sweat that causes blistering

and peeling of the palms and soles.

Anhidrosis is an abnormal condition of diminished or absent sweat.

 Count…
Recall, the dermis is attached to the underlying structures of the skin
by subcutaneous tissue.

The subcutaneous tissue forms lip/o/cytes, or fat cells.

 Dermat/o/scler/osis

hardening

Disease
skin

Therefore, dermatosclerosis is literally translated as a disease that results in

the hardening of the skin. Also known as scleroderma, this disease is an
autoimmune disease that results in scarring of the vital organs resulting in
death.
 Count…
• The oil secreting glands of the skin are called the SEBACEOUS
GLANDS.

• The sweat glands are known as SUDORIFEROUS GLANDS.

 Mycodermatitis

fungus

skin
inflammation

A mycodermatitis is an inflammatory
disease of the skin caused by a fungus.
A common example of this is ATHLETE’S
FOOT or TINEA PEDIS.
Test Yourself
Xerophagia
Condition of eating only
dry foods
Tichomycosis
A fungal disease of the
hair
Adipocele
A hernia of fat cells
Dermatoplasty
Plastic surgery of the skin
More Combining Forms of Color
Cyan/o Blue
Erythr/o Red
Melan/o Black
Xanth/o Yellow
Leuk/o white
 Count…
The pigment that causes skin coloration is MELANIN

Melanosis is the abnormal condition of black.

A melanoma is a tumor of black pigment.

 Count…
A person with bluish discoloration of the skin exhibits

Cyanosis or cyanoderma