Integumentary System  About 90% of epidermal cells are keratinocytes

The integumentary system is the largest organ of the which are arranged in four or five layers and
body. It forms a physical barrier between the external produce the protein keratin, tough layer.
environment and the internal environment and protect  About 8% of the epidermal cells are
the body. melanocytes which produce pigment melanin.
 The Integumentary system consist the skin and Melanin is a yellow-red or brown-black pigment
its derivatives. These include hair, nails, and that contributes to skin color and absorbs
several types of glands. damaging ultraviolet (UV)
 The system functions in protection, in the  light.
regulation of body temperature, in the excretion  Langerhans cells develop from red bone marrow
of waste materials, in the synthesis of vitamin and migrate to the epidermis. They protect us
D3 with the help of sunrays, and in the from microbes.
reception of various stimuli perceived as pain,  Merkel cells located in the deepest layer of the
pressure and temperature. epidermis; it detects touch sensations.
The integumentary system includes:
 Skin (epidermis, dermis)
 Hypodermis
 Associated glands
 Hair
 Nails.
Skin
 Skin is the largest organ in the body occupying
almost 2m2 of surface area thickens of 2mm.
Skin has 3 main parts.
 These are the epidermis, dermis and
hypodermis.
 is the outer layer of the skin that is made of
stratified squamous epithelium.
 It has no blood supply.
 Epidermis contains 4-5 strata. Layers of Epidermis: (from deep to superficial):
 These are stratum cornium, lucidium, Stratum basale or germinatum
granulosum, spinosum and basale,  rests on the basement membrane, and it is the
 Skin occupies 16% of our total body weight last layer of epidermis next to stratum
spinosum.
Skin is made up by two layers:  Stratum basale together with stratum spinosum
Epidermis: constitute stratum germinativum.
 is the outer layer of the skin that is made of  single row of cells attached to dermis; youngest
stratified squamous epithelium. cells
 It has no blood supply. Stratum spinosum
 Epidermis contains 4-5 strata.  Made up of bundles of protein resist tension
 These are stratum cornium, lucidium, next down to stratum granulosum
granulosum, spinosum and basale  The cells in this stratum have a poly-hydral
It is a superficial layer of the skin shape and they are in the process of protein
It contains four principal types of cells: synthesis.
o Keratinocytes Stratum granulosum
o Melanocytes  layers of flattened keratinocytes producing
o Langerhans cells keratin.
o Merkel cells.  lies just below stratum lucidium.
  The cells in this layer are in the process of The Reticular dermis:
keratinization. next to papillary layer. It is made of dense connective
Stratum lucidum tissue with course of collagenous
 (only found in thick skin – that is, the palms of fiber bundles that crisscross to form a storma of elastic
the hands, the soles of the feet and the digits) is network. In the reticular layer many blood and
next to stratum cornium. lymphatic vessels, nerves, fat cell, sebaceous (oil) glands
 It consists of flat, translucent layers of cells. This and hair roots are embedded.
stratum found in thick skin only. Receptors of deep pressure (pacinian corpuscles) are
Stratum corneum distributed through out the dermis.
 horn cornified superficial layer The reticular dermis is the deeper and thicker layer of
 is the outer, dead, flat, Keratinized and thicker the dermis, which lies above the subcutaneous layer of
layer. the skin.
It contains dense connective tissue, which includes:
 Blood vessels
 Elastic fibers (interlaced)
 Collagen fibers (in parallel layers)
 Fibroblasts
 Mast cells
 Nerve endings
 Lymphatics

Layers of Epidermis Functions of the Skin

 Protection
Dermis:  Temperature regulation
 It is a deep layer of skin made up by fibre and it  Excretion
having good tensile strength.  Synthesis
 It is divided in papillary and reticular region.  Sensory reception
The Papillary Dermis: Color of The Skin and its Factor
 It is next to stratum basale of the epidermis. It  Melanin
contains loose connective tissue with in the  Carotene.
bundles of collagenous fibers.  Color of blood
 It also contains loose capillaries that nourish the HYPODERMIS:
epidermis.  The hypodermis lies between the dermis and
 In some areas papillary layer have special nerve underlying organs.
endings that serve as touch receptors  It is also known as subcutaneous layer.
(meissner’s corpuscles).  It is composed of loose areolar tissue and
 Indentations of papillary layer in the palms and adipose tissue.
soles reflected over the epidermis to create  This layer provides additional cushion and
ridges. insulation through its fat storage
 The papillary dermis is the more  function and connects the skin to underlying
 superficial of the two, and lies just beneath the structures such as muscle.
epidermal junction.

It is relatively thin and is made up of loose connective ASSOCIATED GLANDS:

tissue, which includes: Integumentary system has four types of exocrine glands,
o Capillaries which secrete their product or substance outside the
o Elastic fibers cells and body.
1. Sudoriferous glands:
o Reticular fibers
o Collagen
  Sweat glands excrete sweat via very small
openings at the skin’s surface.
 The purpose of sudoriferous glands is to emit
perspiration to help cool the body off when the
body temperature rises.
 Types: Eccrine and Apocrine glands

2. Ceruminous glands:
 Located in the ear canal. It produces ear wax
known as cerumen.
 Cerumen prevents entry of dust, bacteria and Structure of Hair: The hair has two parts, the shaft of the
harmful agent in the ear. part above the skin and the root embedded in the skin.

3. Mammary glands: Nails

 There are two mammary glands located one at Nails consist of several segments, including:
each side of the front of the chest wall.  The nail plate: The part of the nail that is visible.
 Both men and women have mammary glands,  The nail bed: The skin that lies beneath the nail
but in men, these glands are underdeveloped. plate.
 In females, the glands function to produce  The cuticle: The thin line of tissue that is located
breast milk after giving birth. at the base of the nail and overlaps the nail
plate.
4. Sebaceous Glands  The nail folds(eponychium): The folds of the skin
 Simple branched alveolar glands found in the located on the sides of the nail plate.
dermis.  The lunula: The white-colored half-moon-
 Their main functions are lubrication and shaped area located at the base of the nail
protection. plate. (the “little moon”)
 They are connected to hair follicles and secret  The matrix: Part of the nail that is not visible,
oily secretion called sebum. located underneath the cuticle, this is the area
responsible for the growth of the fingernail.
Hair  The area beneath the free edge of the nail,
 Hair is derived from the epidermis but grows its furthest from the cuticle, is called the
roots deep into the dermis. hyponychium. It consists of a thickened layer of
 Its structure divides into the externally visible stratum.
hair shaft and the hair follicle within the skin.
 Hair is primarily comprised of a fibrous protein
and contains a very small amount of lipids (fats)
and water.
 Hair comes from follicles, which are simple
organs made up of cells called epithelial cells

Functions of the Hair

 Insulation
 Against glare
 Screen
 Trap
 Protect

Functions of integumentary system:

 It acts as barrier so it provides physical
protection against bacteria and germs.
 It heals abrasions, cuts and other injuries.
 It protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays
and sunburn.
 It removes waste by excreting sebum, sweat and
other waste from our body.
 It maintains our body temperature by heat
evaporating and absorbing as needed.
 It gives us sensation for heat, cold and detect
other sensations.
 It helps to synthesizes vitamin D.
 It stores fat for a source of energy
 It keeps the body from becoming dehydrated