ANATOMY  

AND  PHYSIOLOGY:  
Integumentary System
   
   
  INTEGUMENTARY  SYSTEM   5.   Excretion  
  Þ   Small  amounts  of  waste  products  are  lost  
•   Integument  means  covering.   through  the  skin  and  in  gland  secretions.  
•   The  appearance  of  the  integumentary  system  
can  indicate  physiological  imbalances  in  the  
body.  

Components    
•   Skin  
•   Nails  
•   Hair  
•   Cutaneous  
sense  organs  
and  glands                              
   
  2  REGIONS  OF  THE  SKIN  
 
 
1.   Epidermis  
Þ   outer  layer  
Þ   Stratified  squamous  epithelium  
Þ   Cornified  or  keratinized  (hardened  by  
keratin)  to  prevent  water  loss  
Þ   Avascular  
Þ   Most  cells  are  keratinocytes    
2.   Dermis  
Þ   Dense  connective  tissue  
Þ   Vascular  
 
    SKIN  STRUCTURE  
Integumentary  System  Functions    
1.   Protection   •   Subcutaneous  tissue  (hypodermis)  is  deep  to  
Þ   The  skin  provides  protection  against   dermis  
abrasion  and  ultraviolet  light.   §   Not  technically  part  of  the  skin    
2.   Sensation   §   Anchors  skin  to  underlying  organs    
Þ   The  integumentary  system  has  sensory   §   Composed  mostly  of  adipose  tissue    
receptors  that  can  detect  heat,  cold,   §   Functions  as  padding  and  insulation.  
touch,  pressure,  and  pain.   §   The  acceptable  percentage  of  body  fat  varies  
3.   Vitamin  D  production   from  21%  to  30%  for  females  and  from  13%  to  
Þ   When  exposed  to  ultraviolet  light,  the  skin   25%  for  males.  
produces  a  molecule  that  can  be    
transformed  into  vitamin  D.    
4.   Temperature  regulation    
Þ   The  amount  of  blood  flow  beneath  the    
skin’s  surface  and  the  activity  of  sweat    
glands  in  the  skin  both  help  regulate  body    
temperature.    
   
    
  Cells  in  the  Epidermis  
  EPIDERMIS   •   Keratinocytes  
    Þ   Produce  keratin,  fibrous  protein  that  helps  
•   Summary  of  layers  from  deepest  to  most   give  the  epidemis  its  protective  properties  
superficial   Þ   Arise  in  the  deepest  part  of  the  epidermis,  
§   Stratum  basale   stratum  basale  
§   Stratum  spinosum   •   Melanocytes  
§   Stratum  granulosum   Þ   Spider-­shaped  epithelial  cells  
§   Stratum  lucidum  (thick,  hairless  skin  only)   Þ   Synthesize  melanin  pigment  
§   Stratum  corneum   Þ   Found  in  the  deepest  part  of  the  epidermis  
 
•   Dendritic  (Langerhans)  Cells  
Þ   Arise  from  bone  marrow  and  migrate  to  the  
Þ   epidermis  
Þ   Ingest  foreign  substances  
Þ   Key  activators  of  our  immune  system  
 
•   Tactile  (Merkel)  Cells  
Þ   Present  at  the  epidermal-­dermal  junction    
Þ   Functions  as  sensory  receptor  for  touch  
 

Layers  of  the  Epidermis  

•   Stratum  basale  (stratum  germinativum)  
Þ   Deepest  layer  of  epidermis  
Þ   Lies  next  to  dermis    
 
Þ   Wavy  borderline  with  the  dermis  anchors  the    
two  together   DERMIS  
 
Þ   Cells  undergoing  mitosis  
•   Two  layers  
 
Þ   Daughter  cells  are  pushed  upward  to  become   §   Papillary  layer  (upper  dermal  region)  
the  more  superficial  layers   Þ   Areolar  connective  tissue  
•   Stratum  spinosum  (Pricky  layer)  
Þ   Collagen  and  elastic  fibers  form  a  loosely  
Þ   Several  cell  layers  thick   woven  mat  
Þ   Contain  weblike  system  of  intermediate   Þ   Projections  called  dermal  papillae  
filaments     •   Some  contain  capillary  loops  
•   Stratum  granulosum  (Granular  layer)   •   Others  house  pain  receptors  and  
Þ   Four  to  six  layers  thick   touch  receptors  called  tactile  or  
Þ   Accumulates  2  types  of  granules:     Meissner’s  corpuscles  
§   Keratohyaline  granules  –  help  to  form  
keratin  in  the  upper  layer    
§   Lamellar  granules  –  contain  water  
resistant  glycolipid  for  slowing  water  loss  
across  the  epidermis    
•   Stratum  lucidum  (Clear  layer)  
Þ   Formed  from  dead  cells  of  the  deeper  strata  
Þ   Occurs  only  in  thick,  hairless  skin  of  the  palms  
of  hands  and  soles  of  feet  
•   Stratum  corneum  (Horny  layer)  
Þ   Outermost  layer  of  epidermis  
Þ   Shingle-­like  dead  cells  are  filled  with  keratin  
(protective  protein  prevents  water  loss  from    
 
skin)  
   Alterations  in  Skin  Color    
DERMIS  (CONT.)  
  •   Redness  (erythema)—due  to  
    embarrassment,  inflammation,  hypertension,  
•   Two  layers   fever,  or  allergy    
§   Reticular  layer   •   Pallor  (blanching)—due  to  emotional  stress  
Þ   80%  of  the  thickness  of  the  dermis   such  as  fear,  anemia,  low  blood  pressure,  
Þ   Dense  fibrous  connective  tissue   impaired  blood  flow  to  an  area    
Þ   Cleavage  (tension  lines)  –  important  to   •   Jaundice  (yellowing)—liver  disorder  
surgeon   •   Bronzing  –  Addison’s  disease  
Þ   Flexure  lines  –  dermal  folds  that  occur  at   •   Bruises—hematomas    
or  near  joints    
  SKIN  APPENDAGES  
   
Skin  Appendages    
•   Cutaneous  glands  are  all  exocrine  glands    
§   Sebaceous  glands  
§   Sweat  glands    
•   Hair  
•   Hair  follicles    
•   Nails    
 
Appendages  of  the  Skin  
•   Oil  (sebaceous)  glands  
Þ   Produce  oil  (sebum),  accumulated  lipids  
and  cell  fragments    
§   Lubricant  for  skin    
Normal  Skin  Color  Determinants     §   Prevents  brittle  hair    
•   Melanin   §   Kills  bacteria    
Þ   Polymer  made  of  tyrosine  amino  acids   •   The  sebum  is  released  by  holocrine  secretion    
Þ   Yellow,  brown,  or  black  pigments     •   Most  have  ducts  that  empty  into  hair  follicles;;  
•   Carotene     others  open  directly  onto  skin  surface    
Þ   Lipid-­soluble     •   Glands  are  activated  at  puberty    
 
Þ   Orange-­yellow  pigment  from  some  vegetables    
Homeostasis  Imbalance  
Þ   Accumulates  in  the  stratum  corneum  and  in  
•   Whitehead  –  accumulated  sebum  blocks  a  
fatty  tissue  of  the  hypodermis    
sebaceous  gland  duct  
•   Hemoglobin  
•   Blackhead  –  material  oxidizes  and  dries  
Þ   Red  coloring  from  blood  cells  in  dermal  
•   Acne  –  an  active  inflammation  of  sebaceous  
capillaries  
glands  accompanied  by  “pimples”  –  caused  by  
Þ   Oxygen  content  determines  the  extent  of  red  
bacterial  infection  (Staphylococcus)  
coloring  
•   Seborrhea  –  overactive  sebaceous  gland,  in  
Þ   A  decrease  in  blood  flow,  as  occurs  in  
infants  it  is  known  as  “cradle  cap”  
shock,  can  make  the  skin  appear  pale.  
 
Þ   A  decrease  in  the  blood  O2  content  
produces  a  bluish  color  of  the  skin,  called  
cyanosis.  
 
Melanin  Transfer  to  Epithelial  Cells  

 
 
 
 
Appendages  of  the  Skin  (Cont.)   Appendages  of  the  Skin  (Cont.)  
   
•   Sweat  (sudoriferous)  glands   •   Hair  or  pili  
Þ   Produce  sweat   Þ   Produced  by  hair  follicle  
Þ   Widely  distributed  in  skin  except  nipples   Þ   Consists  of  hard  keratinized  epithelial  cells  
and  parts  of  external  genitalia   Þ   Melanocytes  provide  pigment  for  hair  color  
Þ   2  Types:   Þ   Hair  grows  in  the  matrix  of  the  hair  bulb  in  
§   Eccrine     stratum  basale  
§   Apocrine  
Þ   Two  types  of  sudoriferous  glands    
§   Eccrine  (Merocrine)  sweat  glands  
Þ   Numerous  and  abundant  in  the  
palms,  soles  of  the  feet  and  
forehead  
Þ   Open  via  duct  to  pore  on  skin  
surface  
Þ   Produce  sweat  (clear)  –  water  &  few  
salts    
§   Apocrine  sweat  glands   •   Hair  anatomy  
Þ   Aprox.  2,000  are  largely  confined  to   §   Central  medulla  
the  axillary  and  anogenital  areas   Þ   Consist  of  large  cell  and  air  spaces  
Þ   Ducts  empty  into  hair  follicles   Þ   Only  part  of  the  hair  that  contains  soft  
Þ   Begin  to  function  at  puberty   Þ   keratin,  absent  in  fine  hairs    
Þ   Release  sweat  that  also  contains   §   Cortex  surrounds  medulla  
fatty  acids  and  proteins   §   Cuticle  on  outside  of  cortex  
(milky/yellowish  color)   Þ   Most  heavily  keratinized  
§   Modified  Apocrine  sweat  glands     Þ   Provides  strength  and  helps  keep  the  inner  
•   Ciliary  glands   layers  tightly  compacted  
Þ   Found  in  the  eyelids  
•   Ceruminous  glands  
Þ   Modified  apocrine  glands  found  in  
the  lining  of  the  external  ear  canal  
Þ   Secretion  mixes  with  sebum  to  
produce  cerumen  or  ear  wax.  
•   Mammary  glands  
Þ   Secretes  milk    
 
•   Associated  hair  structures    
§   Hair  follicle  
Þ   Dermal  and  epidermal  sheath  surround  
hair  root  
§   Hair  papilla  
Þ   Nipple-­like  bit  of  dermal  tissue,  protrudes  
into  the  hair  bulb  
Þ   Contains  knot  of  capillaries  that  supplies  
  nutrients  to  the  growing  hair  and  signals  to  
  grow.  
Sweat  and  its  Function   §   Hair  follicle  
•   Composition   Þ   Dermal  and  epidermal  sheath  surround  
§   Mostly  water   hair  root  
§   Salts  and  vitamin  C   §   Arrector  pili  muscle  
§   Some  metabolic  waste   Þ   Smooth  muscle  cells  
§   Fatty  acids  and  proteins  (apocrine  only)   Þ   Pulls  hairs  upright  when  cold  or  frightened  
•   Function   Þ   Important  role:  contractions  force  sebum  
§   Helps  dissipate  excess  heat   out  of  hair  follicles  to  the  skin  surface  
§   Excretes  waste  products   where  it  acts  as  skin  lubricant.  
§   Acidic  nature  inhibits  bacteria  growth  
•   Odor  is  from  associated  bacteria  
  
   
    INTEGUMENTARY  SYSTEM  PROTECTION  
Functions  of  Hair    
Þ   Protect  us  from  things  in  our  environment,  incl.  
 
The  integumentary  system  performs  many  
UV  radiation,  dust  and  debris   protective  functions:    
Þ   Help  regulate  our  temperature  by  promoting  of   1.   Reduction  in  body  water  loss    
sweat  evaporation  w/c  can  help  us  cool   2.   Acts  as  a  barrier  that  prevents  
Þ   Aid  in  the  detection  of  sensations  duce  to  the  fact   microorganisms  and  other  foreign  substances  
that  our  follicles  are  surrounded  with  nerve   from  entering  the  body    
endings   3.   Protects  underlying  structures  against  
Þ   Play  an  important  psychological  role  in  how  we   abrasion    
perceive  or  identify  ourselves   4.   Melanin  absorbs  ultraviolet  light  and  protects  
  underlying  structures  from  its  damaging  
Types  of  Hair  Growth   effects    
1.   Lanugo   5.   Hair  protection:  The  hair  on  the  head  acts  as  
2.   Vellus  hair   a  heat  insulator,  eyebrows  keep  sweat  out  of  
3.   Terminal  (androgenic)  hair   the  eyes,  eyelashes  protect  the  eyes  from  
  foreign  objects,  and  hair  in  the  nose  and  ears  
Homeostatic  Imbalance   prevents  the  entry  of  dust  and  other  materials.  
•   Hirsutism     6.   The  nails  protect  the  ends  of  the  fingers  and  
Þ   excessive  hairiness   toes  from  damage  and  can  be  used  in  
Þ   may  result  from  an  adrenal  gland  or   defense  
ovarian  tumor    
•   Alopecia    
Þ   hair  thinning  and  some  degree  of  
baldness    
•   True  or  frank  baldness  
Þ   Most  common,  male  pattern  baldness  
 
Appendages  of  the  Skin  (Cont.)  
•   Nails  
Þ   Scale-­like  modifications  of  the  epidermis  
•   Heavily  keratinized  
Þ   Stratum  basale  extends  beneath  the  nail  
bed  
•   Responsible  for  growth  
Þ   Lack  of  pigment  makes  them  colorless  
 
•   Nail  structures  
Þ   Free  edge  
Þ   Body  is  the  visible  attached  portion  
Þ   Root  of  nail  embedded  in  skin  
Þ   Cuticle  is  the  proximal  nail  fold  that  
projects  onto  the  nail  body