Chapter 6.

The Integumentary System

- The largest organ in the human body (1.5-2 m2 of surface)
ca. 16% of body weight
Two major parts:
1. Skin tissue + 2. Accessory structures (Exocrine glands, hair, nail)

Functions of the integument

– Protection of underlying tissues and organs
– Excretion of salts, water, and organic wastes
– Maintenance of normal body temperature
– Production of melanin (absorb UV)
– Production of keratin (water proof)
– Synthesis of vitamin D3 for the bone development and homeostasis
– Detection of sensation (touch, pressure, pain, temperature, vibration etc.)
– Coordination of the immune response
 Two major parts:
1. Skin tissue + 2. Accessory structures (Exocrine glands, hair, nail)

Hair shaft

Epidermis
Epidermal ridge
Dermal papilla
Papillary
layer
Integument Arrector pili
(skin) muscle
Sebaceous (oil) gland

Dermis Reticular
layer Sweat gland

Subcutaneous layer
= hypodermis

Adipose connective tissue

Tactile Areolar
Lamellar corpuscle connective
corpuscle
tissue
Epidermis Stratified squamous epithelium
Keratinocytes (contain large amounts of keratin)
Avascular, like all epithelia
Nutrients and oxygen diffuse from capillaries

Stratum corneum: Multiple layers, dead, Water resistant

Stratum lucidum: Appears as a glassy layer in thick skin only
Stratum granulosum: Keratinocytes produce keratin, the cells die
Stratum spinosum: Keratinocytes are bound together by desmosomes
Stratum basale: Basal stem cell layer just above the basement membrane
 Thick Skin vs Thin Skin

Thick skin: Covers the palms and Thin skin: Covers most of the body,
sole, FIVE layers of keratinocytes FOUR layers of keratinocytes
Skin damage
Loss of skin turgor is caused by Melanosome filled
with melanin
Dehydration (reversible)
Melanin pigment
Aging, all kinds of problem in keratinocyte
Hormones (aging related)
Melanin pigment
UV radiation: Melanocyte
(Damage on DNA!!! > skin cancer)
Stratum basale
Melanin pigments absorb UV
Excessive distortion of skin from pregnancy or weight
gain may cause stretch marks

Epidermal ridges (epidermis)

Epidermal Dermal papillae (dermis)
ridges

Dermal
papillae The base membrane locates between
the epidermal ridges and dermal
papillae
 Dermis

Papillary layer
- Areolar CT
- Contains blood and
lymphatic vessels, and Epidermis

sensory neurons Papillary

layer

Dermis Reticular
layer

Reticular layer
- Dense irregular CT
- Collagen and elastic fibers Subcutaneous layer
= hypodermis
Innervation of skin
- Monitor sensory receptors (sensation)
- Nerve fibers in skin also control:
blood flow and gland secretion rates

Sensory receptors
- Light touch: tactile (Meissner) corpuscles
in dermal papillae
- Deep pressure and vibration: lamellar
corpuscles in reticular layer
- Nerves for pain and temperature,
everywhere including epidermis

Tactile
corpuscle Lamellar corpuscle
Tension lines (cleavage lines)

Produced by parallel bundles of

collagen and elastic fibers in
the dermis
Resist forces applied to skin
A cut made parallel to a
tension line remains shut,
heals well (Perpendicular cut
takes longer to be heal) An incision perpendicular
to cleavage lines may gape
and delay healing.

Keloid scar
(swelling)

An incision parallel to
cleavage lines is more
likely to heal quickly and
not gape open.
Subcutaneous Layer (hypodermis)

– NOT a portion of INTEGUMENTARY

SYSTEM
Epidermis
– Lies deep to dermis
Papillary
– Stabilizes position of the skin layer

– Primarily adipose tissue (store energy)

– Large arteries and veins are in Dermis Reticular
superficial region layer

– Distribution of subcutaneous fat

determined by sex hormones
Subcutaneous layer
= hypodermis
Exocrine glands in skin
1. Merocrine (eccrine) glands: released
cellular metabolic wastes, mostly water :
sweat glands control body
temperature, excrete waste Sweat pore

Sweat
gland duct
2. Apocrine glands: derived from
merocrine glands. Apocrine glands
released small portion of the cytoplasm, Sebaceous (oil)
which may cause body scent and odor. gland
Often activated during puberty

3. Holocrine glands: released entirely Sweat gland

dead cell body. Sebaceous (oil) glands
(discharge lipid secretion (sebum) into
hair follicles: protect from dehydration,
prevent bacteria growth Apocrine gland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5aJTpiwakI
 Hair Shaft

SEM 260x

Arrector
pili muscle

LM 70x
Hair follicle

Hair Root

Hair bulb
Skin Color and Illness

Skin color is influenced by

– Pigments: melanin (dark) and Carotene (orange pigment)
– Thickness of the skin, blood vessels, Blood flow and
oxygenation (red or pale even bluish)

Illness and skin color

– Jaundice: skin and eyes may turn yellow by buildup of bile
produced by liver
– Pituitary tumor: excess production of melanin
– Addison’s disease: causes pituitary gland to release excess
melanin production hormone
– Vitiligo: loss of melanocytes causing loss of color

Vitamin D3 : produced by epidermal cells in presence of UV radiation

– Liver and kidneys together convert vitamin D3 into calcitriol,
required for bone development and homeostasis
(in unit 2 and endocrine system in A&PII)
– Insufficient vitamin D3 can cause rickets
 Wound Blood clot

Epidermis

Dermis Macrophages
Fibroblast
Neutrophils

Leukocyte
Cut blood vessels bleed into the wound. Blood clot forms, and leukocytes clean wound.

Blood clot Scab

Granulation tissue Regenerated

epidermis
Macrophages
Regrowth of blood Scar tissue (fibrosis)
vessel Fibroblast
Fibroblast

Blood vessels regrow, and granulation tissue forms. Epithelium regenerates, &connective tissue fibrosis occurs.
 Skin Cancer

BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

• Most common type of skin cancer

• Least dangerous type, as it seldom metastasizes (i.e., spreads to other locations within the body)
• Originates in stratum basale
• First appears as small, shiny elevation that enlarges and develops central depression with pearly
edge
• Usually occurs on face
• Treated by surgical removal of lesion
SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

• Arises from keratinocytes of stratum spinosum

• Lesions usually appear on scalp, ears, lower lip, or dorsum of hand.
• Early lesions are raised, reddened, scaly; later lesions form concave ulcers with elevated edges.
• Treated by early detection and surgical removal of lesion
• May metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body

MALIGNANT MELANOMA

• Most deadly type of skin cancer due to aggressive growth and metastasis
• Arises from melanocytes, usually in a preexisting mole
• Individuals at increased risk include those who have had severe sunburns, especially as children.
• Characterized by change in mole diameter, color, shape of border, and symmetry
• Survival rate improved by early detection and surgical removal of lesion
• Advanced cases (metastasis of disease) are difficult to cure and are treated with chemotherapy,
interferon therapy, and radiation therapy.
ABCDE rule. Report any of the following changes in a birthmark or mole to your physician:
A = Asymmetry: One-half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other.
B = Border: Edges are notched, irregular, blurred, or ragged.
C = Color: Color is not uniform; differing shades (usually brown or black and sometimes patches of white, blue, or red) may be seen.
D = Diameter: Affected area is larger than 6 mm (about 1/4 inch) or is growing larger.
E = Evolving: Change in the size, shape, or color of a mole or a change in symptoms, such as how a mole feels (how itchy
or tender it feels) or what happens on the surface of a mole (especially bleeding)
 Lunula

Nail fold

Free edge

Eponychium (cuticle) Nail body

Nail matrix
Nail root

Nail bed

Nail plate