MODULE 4: THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

What’s covering you? You’re right, it’s the skin!

Before we go deeper into this module, let us go over first these interesting skin facts.

● Surface area of an adult body is covered with 3000 square inches of skin.
● Skin weighs about 6 to 9 pounds or 3 to 5 kilos of the body weight.
● Skin receives about 1/3 of the blood circulating throughout the body.
● Skin is flexible and can repair and regenerate itself under normal conditions.
● Skin is almost entirely waterproof.

Let’s find out the truth to these facts as we study this module.

The integumentary system is composed of the skin and its derivatives. When we say
derivatives, these are the structures that arise from the epidermis or dermis of the skin. Skin
derivatives include the hairs, nails, and glands. The term integument means covering.

Most people are familiar with this system

because it involves the skin which is easily
observed. Many individuals spend lots of
money for beauty products and/or
procedures, because they are concerned
with the appearance of their skin. The skin
can also be an indicator of physiological
imbalances of the body. This system is useful
for diagnosis of a particular health problem.
For instance, viral infections can manifest on
the skin like measles, chicken pox, and
shingles.

This module is divided into 3 lessons:

Lesson 1: The Layers of the Skin
Lesson 2. The Accessory Structures of the Skin
Lesson 3. Functions of the Integumentary System

Objectives:

At the end of this module, the learners are able to:

1. differentiate the sub-layers of the epidermis;

2. conclude why dermis is much thicker than the epidermis;
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3. describe the anatomy of the hair and nail;

4. compare the two kinds of glands in the skin based on structure and secretion; and
5. explain the functions of the skin and how each function affects our homeostasis and
survival.
PRE-TASK:

Unscramble the terms below, which you will encounter as you continue with this module.

1. EAWST ____________________________
2. ACEN ____________________________
3. CASOEUSEB LASNGD ____________________________
4. SINK ____________________________
5. TENAKRI ____________________________
6. OSNSRYE POEECRTRS ____________________________
7. CHECKIN XPO ____________________________
8. WTSAE LDNAG ____________________________
9. EOSTUUUCASNB ALYRE ____________________________
10. IDMRSE ____________________________
11. DIPRESMIE ____________________________

TO BE SUBMITTED IN THE LMS

WHILE TASK:

LESSON 1: THE LAYERS OF THE SKIN

The human skin is made up of two major layers: the outer, thinner epidermis; and the inner, much thicker
dermis.

THE EPIDERMIS
This layer of the skin is made up of 4 to 5 layers of
stratified squamous epithelium. The cells are held
together by cell junctions called desmosomes. The
layers of cells in the inner epidermis are pushed upward
by new cells.

As this happens, the cells change in shape and chemical

composition as the cells lose water and eventually die.
The process is called keratinization, and dead cells are
filled with a protein material called keratin. The
epidermis is avascular. The innermost layer of
epidermal cells derived its nourishment from the dermis
with which the cells are in contact with.

The figure on the right illustrates the 5 strata of the

epidermis from outer to inner layer.
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You can also click the link below for further discussion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orumw-
PyNjw&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOAKed_MxxWBNaPno5h3Zs8&t=0s

THE DERMIS
This layer is composed of dense connective tissue that contains collagen and elastic fibers.
The dermis is divided into the papillary and reticular layers.
The papillary layer derived its name from the dermal papillae or ridges that extends to the
epidermis. It is made of areolar loose connective tissue and is highly vascularized, hence it
provides blood supply to the epidermis.
The reticular layer is made of dense irregular connective tissue. It accounts for 80% of the
dermis, and it contains hair follicles, nerve endings, blood vessels, sweat and sebaceous glands,
and smooth muscle. Beneath its layer is a subcutaneous tissue called hypodermis. It connects
the skin to the underlying structures, such as muscle or a bone.

Read chapter 6 of your Human Anatomy and Physiology textbook.

Read article from the link below/

https://www.earthslab.com/physiology/cells-layers-epidermis/
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CHECK-IN ACTIVITY

I. Identify the correct answers to the following questions. Write your answers in your LMS.

✔ You may refer to the figure above, to your textbook or to the article that you have read.
1. Which layer of the epidermis is found beneath the stratum granulosum?
2. Most cells of the epidermis are ________________.
3. Which layer of the epidermis produces new cells by mitosis?
4. Which layer is the thinnest and may only be found in thick skin of the palms of the hands
and soles of the feet?
5. Which cells of the epidermis are responsible for the color of the skin?
6. Which parts of the body have thick skin?
7. Which parts of the body have thin skin?
8. What disorder of the skin can be diagnosed when there is an excessive desquamation of
the cells of stratum corneum?
9. A gene mutation that prevents the production of melanin pigments results in absence
of skin color. What do we call this condition?
10. The thickened area of the skin that results from excessive amount of friction or abrasion
is called __________.

II. Answer the questions below in not more than 3 sentences.

1. What makes the dermis of the skin much thicker than the epidermis?
2. What are the possible factors that determine variations in skin color? Explain.
3. What causes stretch marks?

(TO BE SUBMITTED IN THE LMS)

LESSON 2: THE ACCESSORY STRUCTURES OF THE SKIN

For this lesson, you are going to find out the other structures that make up the
integumentary system. As mentioned earlier, these structures are also known as skin
derivatives.

HAIR
This skin derivative covers the entire body, except the palms, soles and certain parts of
genitalia. The distribution of hairs on the body varies. The head, axilla, and pubic area have thicker
hairs.
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What are the functions of hairs in different parts of the body?

An individual hair is composed of the outermost cuticle, the middle part is the medulla, and the
main part of the hair is the cortex. Other parts of the anatomy of the hair is the shaft, which is
the visible portion; hair follicle, which is an epidermal tube that is made up of outer connective
tissue sheath and inner epithelial membrane; within the hair follicle is the root, and the base of
the root is the hair bulb. Arrector pili muscle in the dermis connects with the hair follicle and
causes “goose bumps” when we are scared or when we chill.

Refer to figure 6.4 of your anatomy textbook for the anatomy of the hair.

Hair Facts!

● Testosterone and good nutrition promote hair growth

● Growth occurs in cycles: active and resting
● Scalp hair grows for 3 years and rests for 1 year
● Eyelashes grow for 30 days and rest for 105 days
● We lose about 90 scalp hairs/day
● Grey hair is the loss or fading of melanin
● Male pattern baldness is from the loss of the hair follicle

You can also click the link below for further discussion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4hnFf_jmvU
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NAILS

Can you imagine your fingertips and toes without nails?

What are the nails for?
What do other animals have at the tips of their fingers and toes instead of nails?

Nails are thin plates with layers of dead stratum corneum cells and hard keratin.
The structure of the nail includes:
1. Nail body, which is the visible part;
2. Nail root, which is covered by skin;
3. Cuticle, which is made of stratum corneum that extends to the nail body;
4. Nail matrix, which is a continuation of the nail root, and gives rise to most of the nail;
5. Nail bed, where the nail rests on and found distal to the matrix; and
6. Lunula, part of nail matrix that is whitish, crescent shaped area at the base of nail

Use this figure to examine the inner parts of the nail, or your nail for the external parts.

SEBACEOUS GLANDS
This is one of the skin glands which are connected to hair follicles and produce an oily substance
called sebum. Sebum maintains the condition of the skin and hairs, by acting as lubricant, which
prevents their drying. The skin lining the ear canal is lined with modified sebaceous glands called
ceruminous glands. The secretion of these glands is called earwax or cerumen.
What is the function of the earwax?
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You can also click the link below for further discussion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN-x-
zXXVwQ&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOAKed_MxxWBNaPno5h3Zs8&index=8

SWEAT GLANDS
These are simple tubular glands
found in almost all parts of the body,
except the lip margins and head of
the penis.
There are two kinds of sweat
glands: the eccrine and the
apocrine sweat glands. Eccrine
sweat glands are the most
numerous and common sweat
glands that secrete salt and water.
Apocrine sweat glands are found
in the armpits, male scrotum, labia
majora of females, and around the
anus. They are not involved in
thermoregulation.
Mammary glands are modified
sweat glands located in the breasts.
Their cells produce milk.

CHECK-IN ACTIVITY

Answer the following questions briefly:

1. Use the figure above to compare the eccrine and apocrine sweat glands.
2. In what part of a hair does growth take place? What are the stages of hair growth?
3. What determines the different shades of hair color?
4. Why is sweating important?
5. What can possibly happen to individuals without sweat glands?
6. What causes acne in adolescents?
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LESSON 3. FUNCTIONS OF THE INTEGUMENTARY SKIN

The integumentary system functions for protection, sensation, temperature regulation,
Vitamin D production, and excretion.

PROTECTION
The protective functions of this system are
enumerated as follows:

1. The body is protected from water loss due

to the intact skin and its lipid content.
2. Prevents entry of microorganisms and other
foreign substances into the body.
3. Protects underlying structures against
abrasion because of the stratified
squamous epithelium of the epidermis.
4. Hair protects the body in different ways:
Hairs on head, act as insulator; eyebrows
keep sweat out of the eyes; eyelashes
protect the eyes from foreign objects; and
on nose and ears prevents entry of dust and other materials.
5. Nails protect the ends of digits from damage and can be used for defense.

SENSATION
The skin has receptor sites that detect changes in the environment for temperature and
pressure. Skin receptors are in contact with sensory neurons that send signals to the CNS for
interpretation.
Temperature receptors produce sensations of hot and cold. Pressure receptors let us detect
pain from excessive pressure or pleasure from gentle massage or light touch.

THERMOREGULATION
The regulation of the body temperature is a very important function of the integumentary
system to maintain homeostasis.
Sweat is produced when the temperature is increased as a result of exercise, fever, or increase
in environmental temperature. Sweat as it evaporates cools the body. Dilation of blood vessels
increases blood flow toward the surface of the skin. This results in increased heat loss. On the
other hand, if the environmental temperature gets low, blood vessel constriction decreases blood
flow toward the surface of the skin, resulting in decreased heat loss.
Why do we need to maintain body temperature within the normal range?
Increased body temperature can damage enzymes. Without enzymes, no chemical reactions
could occur, cellular functions stop, and death occurs.
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VITAMIN D PRODUCTION
Production of Vitamin D begins when a molecule (7-dehydrocholesterol) in the skin is exposed
to UV light is converted to pre-vitamin D (cholecalciferol).
This is carried to the liver by the blood where it is modified, sent to the kidneys where it is further
modified to form the active vitamin D (calcitriol). Vitamin D helps maintain normal blood levels of
calcium and phosphorus, increase the absorption of calcium for formation and maintenance of
our bones, and many other important functions.

EXCRETION AND SECRETION

Sweat or perspiration, aside from regulating the body temperature is also a means of removing
waste products such as urea, uric acid and ammonia.
Secretion of sebum by the sebaceous glands has antifungal and antibacterial properties.

POST-TASK

Use the figure below to identify the parts of the skin.

1. _________________
2. _________________
3. _________________
4. _________________
5. _________________

A. _________________
B. _________________
C. _________________

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (CHAPTER TEST)

CHECK AND ANSWER THE ASSESSMENT IN THE LMS

REFERENCES
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Textbooks

Rizzo, R. C. (2016). Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology (4th ed.) Singapore ,CENGAGE
Learning Asia Pte Ltd.

Tate, P. (2009). Seeley’s Principles of Anatomy & Physiology (International ed.). McGraw-Hill,
NY. C&E Publishing Inc.

Online Article

DeBara, D. (2019, March 7). 4 Reasons Your Skin Care Stopped Working and 5 Alternatives to
Try. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/ingredient-product-not-
working
Is measles here to stay?. (2019, April 30). NPR.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-
shots/2019/04/30/718220586/is-measles-here-to-stay

Video

TED-Ed. (2018, March 12). The science of skin - Emma Bryce [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxPlCkTKhzY&list=PL55XR0BoUQUh_4yFl-
iWKQ5Hx30xsaUe4&index=12&t=0s

LivingHealthyChicago. (2015, May 18). How to Identify Skin Conditions [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlMzz0UYkDI

Pictures/Objects

Retrieved from images 2-November-2017_Did-You-Know-1200x1200-INFOGRAPHIC-600x600

https://forefrontdermatology.com/skin-fun-facts/

Cells and Layers of the Epidermis. Retrieved from https://www.earthslab.com/physiology/cells-

layers-epidermis/

Structure of the Human Skin. Retrieved from https://quizlet.com/267829842/structure-of-human-

skin-diagram/

Skin Model Labeled-Bing Images/Skin Anatomy, physiology

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/401664860491561002/

Structure of Nails-Diagram. Retrieved from https://quizlet.com/234115002/structure-of-nails-

diagram/

Nutrition II: Circulatory and excretory system lesson. Retrieved from

https://www.tes.com/lessons/HCpFGHL5MMg2yw/nutrition-ii-circulatory-and-excretory-system

The Structures, Locations, Functions of the Sensory Receptors. (2016). Retrieved from
https://www.earthslab.com/physiology/structures-locations-functions-sensory-receptors/