MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF THE

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
 • The skin is made up of two major tissue layers, the
Epidermis and the Dermis

• Epidermis - superficial layer of the skin, consisting of

stratified squamous epithelial tissue. Contains Multiple
cell layers

• Dermis - layer of connective tissue; responsible for

most of the strength of the skin.

THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

I. OVERVIEW

The integumentary system consists of the skin and • Subcutaneous tissue, or hypodermis
accessory structures, such as hair, glands, and nails.
- a layer of loose connective tissue
Following are the major functions of the integumentary
system: - Not part of the skin or the integumentary system, but it
does connect the skin to underlying muscle or bone
1. Protection
II. EPIDERMIS
2. Sensation
- Stratified Squamous Epithelium
3. Temperature regulation.
- No blood vessels; receives nutrients and excretes
4. Vitamin D production. waste products by diffusion to the capillaries of the
dermis
5. Excretion.
Cells of the epidermis:
6. Sexual signaling
o Keratinocytes
1. Protection - Covering from external environment;
o Melanocytes
protects against UV radiation, dehydration and
microorganisms o Merkel Cells
o Langerhans Cells
2. Sensation - Numerous sensory receptors in the skin
1. Keratinocytes – Epithelial cells containing keratin;
3. Temperature - Modulating blood flow through skin provides resistance to abrasion and water loss
and the sweat glands regulation
2. Melanocytes - Produce the pigment melanin; which
4. Vitamin D - When irradiated by UV light, Vitamin D contributes to skin color.
is transformed to production its hormonal form (for Ca+
regulation) 3. Merkel Cells - Cells associated with nerve endings;
detects light touch and superficial pressure
5. Excretion - Small amounts of waste excreted through
glands and the skin 4. Langerhans Cells – Associated with immune
response; Antigen presentation
6. Sexual signaling - Sex pheromones produced by the
apocrine sweat glands and are involved in the attraction On Keratinocytes:
between sexes
 - Anchored to a basement membrane by
hemidesmosomes

- Keratinocyte stem cells undergo mitosis every 19 days

- Melanocytes (melanin producing cells) are seen here

2. Stratum Spinosum

1. Keratinocytes are constantly lost at the surface of the

epidermis but are constantly replaced

2. Newer Keratinocytes are produced from mitosis of

the deepest layer of the epidermis

3. Newer cells push older cells towards the surface

(“sloughing off’) - 8–10 layers of many-sided cell

4. As the newer cells go to the surface, they undergo - Appear “spiny” upon preparation for microscopic
keratinization (accumulation of keratin) observation

5. During keratinization, cells eventually die (loss of - “Spines” are actually desmosomes that come out of
nucleus and other organelles) cell due to cell shrinkage

* This process can be viewed through the different - Lipid filled, membrane bound organelles called
layers or strata of the epidermis lamellar bodies form inside keratinocytes

From the deepest to the most superficial, the five strata: - Langerhans Cells are also present

1. Stratum Basale 3. Stratum Granulosum

2. Stratum Spinosum - 2-5 layers of flattened, diamond-shaped cells.
3. Stratum Granulosum - Presence of kerato-hyaline granules accumulating in
the cytoplasm of keratinocytes
4. Stratum Lucidum
- Nucleus and organelles of keratinocytes degenerate;
5. Stratum Corneum cells die.

4. Stratum Lucidum
- Several layers of dead keratinocytes with indistinct
boundaries.

- Kerato-hyaline granules have dispersed out of cell; cell

appears transparent

- Stratum lucidum is present in only a few areas of the

body called Thick Skin

Thick skin – palms of the hand, soles of the feet and

fingertips

Thin skin - rest of the body

5. Stratum Corneum
1. Stratum Basale - 25 or more layers of dead squamous cells
- Single Layer of Cuboidal or Columnar Cells - Outer layers sheds off due to breaking of desmosomes
- Cornified Cells – dead keratinocytes with protein • Scattered among cells of stratum basale
envelope made of keratin
• Abundant in the fingertips and oral mucosa and at the
base of hair follicles

• Tonic receptors for sustained light touch and for

sensing an object’s texture.

III. DERMIS
- Connective Tissue

- Provides Mechanical Support

Cells of the Dermis:

1. Fibroblast

2. Adipocytes (few)

3. Macrophages

Protein Fibers of the Dermis

1. Collagen (predominant)

2. Elastic
On Melanocytes:
3. Reticular
Irregularly shaped cells with many long processes that
extend between the keratinocytes of the stratum basale Other Structures in the Dermis:
and the stratum spinosum
1. Blood Vessels
Melanocytes produce and package melanin into vesicles
2. Hair Follicles
called melanosomes, which will be engulfed by
Keratinocytes by phagocytosis 3. Smooth Muscle
Melanin production is facilitated by the enzyme 4. Glands
tyrosinase
5. Lymphatic Vessels
Skin color is determined by:
6. Nerve Endings
1. Types of melanin produced
Types of Nerve Endings in the Dermis:
2. Amount of melanin produced
1. Free Nerve Endings
3. Size of melanosomes
2. Hair Follicle Receptors
4. Number of melanosomes
3. Pacinian Corpuscle
5. Distribution of melanosomes
4. Meissner Corpuscle
On Langerhans Cell:
5. Ruffini Corpuscle
• Involved in Immune Response; Antigen presenting
cells Layers of the Dermis

• Only a migrant to the skin (macrophage) 1. Papillary Layer

• Also called dendritic cells - Superficial layer; immediately next to epidermis

• Display a dense nucleus, pale cytoplasm, and long - Forms projections called Dermal Papillae
slender processes that radiate out from the cell body into
the intercellular spaces between keratinocytes - Connects with epidermal ridges

- Loose Connective Tissue

On Merkel Cells:
- Contains blood vessels that supply nutrients, remove 1. Meissner Corpuscles - initiate impulses when light-
waste products and regulate temperature of the touch or low-frequency stimuli against skin; numerous
epidermis in the fingertips, palms, and soles

2. Reticular Layer 2. Lamellated (Pacinian) Corpuscles – for detection of

pressure or firm touch.
- Deep Layer
3. Ruffini Corpuscles - collagenous, fusiform capsules
- Main Layer of the Dermis anchored firmly to the surrounding connective tissue.
- Dense Irregular Connective Tissue
VI. ACCESSORY SKIN STRUCTURES
o A deep plexus with larger blood and
1. HAIR
lymphatic vessels lies near the interface of the
dermis and the subcutaneous layer. 2. NAILS
o Thermoregulatory Function of the dermis is
done by arteriovenous anastomoses located 3. GLANDS
between both plexuses
a. Sweat Glands
IV. SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE b. Sebaceous Glands
Beneath the Dermis
1. HAIR:
Also called Hypodermis or Superficial Fascia
- Hair is found everywhere on the skin except the palms,
- Loose Connective Tissue the soles, the lips, the nipples, parts of the external
genitalia, and the distal segments of the fingers and toes.
Cells in the Subcutaneous Tissue
Hair Development
1. Adipocytes (Half of the body’s stored lipids are here)
• 5th to 6th week of fetal development – lanugo
2. Fibroblasts (unpigmented)
3. Macrophages • At Birth – terminal hairs replace lanugo of scalp,
eyelids and eyebrows
Remember: The Hypodermis is not considered a part of
the skin • Vellus Hairs – shorter, finer hairs that replace lanugo
of the rest of the body
V. SENSORY RECEPTORS
• Puberty – Terminal Hairs replaces vellus hair in the
Simple nerve endings with no Schwann cell or body, esp. pubic and axillary regions
collagenous coverings (Uncapsulated)
1. HAIR
More complex structures with sensory fibers enclosed
by glia and delicate connective tissue capsules - Keratinized Structures forming within epidermal
(Capsulated) evaginations called hair follicles

Uncapsulated Receptors - Rapidly undergoing keratinization to form the

medulla, cortex, and cuticle of a hair root
1. Merkel cells - tonic receptors for sustained light touch
and for sensing an object’s texture. 1. HAIR

2. Free Nerve Endings - in the papillary dermis; respond Hair Shaft

primarily to high and low temperatures, pain, and
- Protrudes above the surface of the skin
itching.

3. Root Hair Plexuses – surrounding the bases of hair Hair Root

follicles in the reticular dermis that detects movements
- Below the surface of the skin
of the hairs.
- The base of the hair root is called the Hair Bulb
Capsulated Receptors
Layers of the Hair Root and Hair Shaft
1. Medulla 3. GLANDS
- Center, has 2 layers of soft keratin Sebaceous Glands

2. Cortex Sweat Glands

- Covers Medulla; layers of hard keratin Sebaceous Glands

3. Cuticle - Located at Dermis; releases secretions into upper
portion of Hair Follicles
- Covers Cortex; 1 layer of hard keratin
- Compound Acinar (alveolar)
Hair Follicle
- Produces Sebum (rich in lipids)
- Tubelike invagination of the epidermis that extends
into the dermis. - Holocrine Secretion

- Hair develops and grows within each hair follicle Sweat Glands

Layers of the Hair Follicle - A.K.A. Sudoriferous Glands

1. Dermal Root Sheath - Two types, eccrine and apocrine

2. Epithelial Root Sheath - Despite their name, both use merocrine secretion

- Internal Root Sheath Eccrine Sweat Glands

- External Root Sheath - Most common sweat gland

Arrector pili muscle - Not found in lips, labia minora, tips of clitoris and
penis
- Smooth muscle inserts on hair follicle and base of
epidermis - Simple, coiled, tubular

- When contracting, it pulls the follicle into a more Duct:

perpendicular position, causing the hair to “stand on
- Less coiled, leads to epidermis
end”
- Stratified cuboidal epithelium
- Common response to cold temperatures
Secretory segment:
2. NAILS
- In deep dermis or hypodermis
- Thin plate consisting of layers of dead stratum
corneum cells that contain a very hard type of keratin Eccrine Sweat Glands
- Located on the distal ends of the digits (fingers and - Secretory segment produces fluid containing mostly
toes) water but also contains the ff:

Nail Root – Proximal portion of nail; covered by skin 1. Salts (Sodium Chloride)

Nail Body – Distal portion of nail; visible portion 2. Ammonia

Nail Fold – Skin that covers lateral and proximal edges 3. Uric Acid
of a nail
4. Urea
Nail Groove –Holds the edges of the nail in place
5. Lactic Acid
Cuticle – Part of the nail fold that grows onto the nail
body - Cooling Effect on the body

Nail Matrix – Area of cell division of nails; newly Apocrine Sweat Glands
formed cells move distally and become keratinized
- Simple, coiled, tubular
Lunula - visible portion of nail matrix
- Opens into hair follicles, superficial to sebaceous
glands

- Found in axillae, genitalia and aroun the anus

- Does not help in temperature regulation; active in

puberty and suggested to signal sexual activity

Other Skin Glands:

Ceruminous Glands – secretes cerumen (earwax);

located in external auditory canal

Mammary Glands – modified apocrine sweat glands;

produces milk

VII. PHYSIOLOGY OF THE INTEGUMENTARY

4. Vitamin D Synthesis
SYSTEM
• Skin exposed to ultraviolet light produces
1. Protection cholecalciferol, which is modified in the liver and then
in the kidneys to form active vitamin D.
• Epidermis - prevents abrasion
• Vitamin D increases blood calcium levels by
• Dermis – prevents structural strength; prevents tearing
promoting calcium uptake from the small intestine.
• Glands - secretions produce environment not suitable
for some microorganisms 5. Excretion

• Melanin – absorbs UV Light • Skin glands remove small amounts of waste products
(e.g., urea, uric acid,and ammonia) but are not important
• Hair – insulation, protection from foreign substances in excretion
(eyelashes , nostrils) protects from abrasion (axillary
and pubic hair) 6. Sexual Signaling

• Nails – protects distal portions of fingers and toes; • Apocrine Sweat Glands
may be used for defense

• Intact Skin – reduces water loss, physical barrier

against microorganisms

2. Sensation
• Receptors for pain, heat, cold and pressure

3. Temperature Regulation
• To increase heat loss – Dilation of blood vessels in the
dermis

- Sweat production

• To decrease heat loss - Constriction of blood vessels in

the dermis

- Contraction of the arrector pili muscles causes hair to

stand on end

Burn – injury to a tissue caused by heat, cold, friction,

chemicals, electricity, or radiation.

- Classified according to the extent of surface area

involved and the depth of the burn
Burn • Arise from Melanocytes

Partial Thickness Burns • Appears black or brown, but also red or pink

• First Degree • 40% of melanomas develop in preexisting moles.

• Second Degree Detection of Melanoma

Full Thickness Burns • Early detection is crucial

• Third Degree Burns • Routine examination of the skin and application of the
ABCDE rule, which states the signs of melanoma:
Full Thickness Burns
A – Asymmetry (One side of the lesion does not match
• Third Degree Burns the other side)
- Complete destruction of Epidermis and Dermis B – Border Irregularity (Edges are ragged, notched, or
burred)
- Painless because sensory receptors are destroyed
C – Color (Pigmentation is not uniform)
- Skin can only regenerate from the edges
D – Diameter (Greater than 6 mm)
- Skin grafting is necessary
E – Evolving (Changing in size, shape, may bleed, crust,
Cancer itch or become tender)
– abnormal cell mass

•Benign - Does not spread

•Malignant - Metastasized (moves) to other parts of

the body

•Skin cancer - most common type of cancer

What Cells are Involved?

1. Basal cell carcinoma

2. Squamous cell carcinoma

3. Melanoma

1. Basal Cell Carcinoma

• Most common skin cancer; Usually arises in sun
exposed skin

• Affects cells in the stratum basale. Basal cell

carcinomas have a varied appearance

• Slow growing but locally destructive

2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Less common

• Affects cells in the stratum spinosum and can appear

as a wartlike

• Faster-growing, occasionally metastasizes

3. Melanoma
• Least common, but most deadly