Human Anatomy and Physiology

Chapter 2

Integumentary System
Chapter 2

Integumentary System
Introduction

The integumentary system consists of skin, hair, glands, and nerves. Its main function is to act as
a barrier to protect the body from the outside world. It also functions to retain body fluids, protect
against disease, eliminate waste products, and regulate body temperature.

Specific Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Articulate the functions of the skin.

2. Describe the 3 different structures of the skin and the different layers within.
3. Describe the pigments that contribute to skin color and how the integumentary system can
be used as a diagnostic aid.
4. Describe the accessory skin structures.

Duration

Chapter 2: Integumentary System = 5 hours

(3 hours discussion; 2 hours
assessment)
Lesson Proper

Integumentary System
➢ Integument means “covering”.
➢ The integumentary system consists of the skin and accessory
structures such as hair, glands and nails.
Skin
➢ The skin is the exterior covering of the body.
➢ It weighs 3-5 kg of your body weight and covers at least 2 square meters.
➢ It is the largest organ of the body.
➢ It is supplied with blood vessels and nerves.
Functions
1. Protection:
➢ Protects against abrasion and UV.
➢ Prevents microorganisms from entering the body
➢ Reduces water loss, therefore prevents dehydration.
2. Sensation: can detect heat, cold, touch, pressure and pain.
3. Vitamin D production: when exposed to UV light, the skin produces a molecule that
can be transformed into Vitamin D.
4. Temperature Regulation: When the body is too hot, the blood vessels in the skin dilate.
That brings more blood to the surface for cooling by radiation. At the same time, sweat
glands secrete more sweat that cools the body when it evaporates. When the body is too
cold, the skin’s blood vessels constrict. This allows more heat-carrying blood to circulate
to the muscles and organs.
5. Excretion: small amounts of waste products are lost through the skin and in gland
secretions.
Structure of the Skin

1st Structure: Epidermis

Epidermis is the only layer you can see. It is avascular stratified
squamous epithelium that is capable of keratinizing, or
becoming hard and tough. Composed of up to 5 layers called
strata.
1. Stratum Basale
• The stratum germinativum
• Connects the dermis and epidermis
• is the innermost layer of the epidermis, and
contains melanin.
• Forms epidermal ridges (fingerprints)
Cells that can be found in the Stratum Basale:
• Melanocyte: A spider shaped cell that PRODUCES melanin. Melanin is the pigment that
gives skin it’s color. The more abundant the melanin… the darker the skin color. Damage
to this layer, such as in severe burns, requires skin grafts.
• Merkel cells: Found in hairless skin. Responds to touch (triggers the nervous system).

2. Stratum Spinosum
• The “spiny layer”.
• Getting closer to where cell generation or mitosis is active.
• Continues to divide, which increases the thickness of epithelium.
• Contains Langerhans cells.
Cells that can be found in the Stratum Spinosum:
• Langerhans cells: Active in your immune response. It originates from your bone marrow.
3. Stratum Granulosum
• The “grainy layer”
 • Are being compressed and flattened as they move up the epidermal layers
maturing as they go.
• Dehydrates and dies

4. Stratum Lucidum
• The “clear layer”
• Found only in thick skin
• Cells in this layer are also dead or are in the process of dying.

5. Stratum Corneum
• Also known as the “horny cell layer”
• 15-30 layers of dead keratinized cells.
• Water resistant
• Shed and replaced every 2 weeks, occurs on all exposed skin surfaces except
eyes.
• It takes 15–30 days for a cell to move from stratum basale to stratum corneum
• It is thicker on the soles of the feet than on the eyelids…where there is less
pressure.
Cells that can be found in the Stratum Corneum:
• Keratinocytes: the building blocks of the tough, fibrous protein keratin that gives
structure, durability and waterproofing to your nail, hair and outer skin. It is the most
abundant cells in the epidermis.
➢ Thin Skin: covers most of the body, has 4 layers of keratinocytes
➢ Thick skin: cover palms and soles, has 5 layers of keratinocytes.
2nd Structure
Dermis: your “hide”. Strong, stretchy envelope that helps to hold your body together.
• Where most of the work in skin happens.
It contains the lymphatics, nerves, nerve
endings, blood vessels, sebaceous and sweat
glands, elastic fibers, and hair follicles.
• Anchors hair follicles and sweat glands.
1. The Papillary Layer
• Consists of areolar tissue
• Contains smaller capillaries,
lymphatics, and sensory neurons
• Has dermal papillae projecting between epidermal ridges
2. The Reticular Layer
• Consists of dense irregular connective tissue
• Contains larger blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerve fibers
• Contains collagen and elastic fibers
Dermal Strength and Elasticity
Presence of two types of fibers:
a. Collagen fibers
• Very strong, resist stretching but bend easily
• Provide flexibility
b. Elastic fibers
• Permit stretching and then recoil to original length
• Limit the flexibility of collagen fibers to prevent damage to tissue
Skin Damage
1. Sagging and wrinkles (reduced skin elasticity) are caused by:
• Dehydration
• Age
• Hormonal changes
• UV exposure
2. Stretch marks: thickened tissue resulting from excessive stretching of skin due to
• Pregnancy
• Weight gain
Cleavage Lines
• Collagen and elastic fibers in the dermis are arranged in
parallel bundles and resists force in a specific direction.
• A parallel cut remains shut, heals well.
• A cut across (right angle) pulls open and scars.
3rd Structure
Hypodermis or Subcutaneous
• Adipose or fatty tissues.
• It supports, nourishes, insulates, and cushions the skin.
• It helps anchors the skin. ANTERIOR POSTERIOR

Skin Color
3 pigments contribute to skin color:
1. The amount and kind of melanin (yellow, reddish brown, or black) in the epidermis.
2. The amount of carotene in the stratum corneum and subcutaneous tissue. The skin tends
to take on a yellow-orange cast when large amounts of carotene-rich foods are eaten.
3. The amount of oxygen-rich hemoglobin (pigment in the red blood cells) in the dermal
blood vessels.
People who produce a lot of melanin have brown-toned skin.

All races have the same number of melanocytes, but racial variation in skin color are determined
by the amount, kind and distribution of melanin.

Integumentary System as a diagnostic aid

1. Jaundice (yellow): May indicate liver disorder.
2. Cyanosis (blue): a decrease in blood oxygen.
3. Erythema (red): Blood flowing from the skin imparts a reddish hue and when blood flow
increases. Examples include blushing and the redness resulting from the inflammatory
response.
4. Pallor (white): a decrease in blood flow (shock). Anemic.

Accessory Skin Structures

I. Hair
Each hair arises from a hair follicle, an invagination of the
epidermis that extends deep into the dermis.
1. Hair shaft: protrudes above the surface of the skin
2. Hair Root: below the skin
3. Hair bulb: expanded base of the root.

• Hair follicles can play an important part in the repair

of skin because hair follicle is composed of
epithelial tissue. If the epidermis is damaged, the
epithelial cells within the hair follicle can divide and
serve as a source of new epithelial cells.
 • At the base of each hair follicle is a bulb enclosing a loop of
capillaries. It is called the hair papilla and provides nourishment to the
hair. It is one of the few living parts of the hair and is responsible for
hair growth.
1. The transparent cuticle covers the hair shaft like shingles on a roof,
protecting it from the elements and chemicals, and from losing
moisture.
2. The cortex provides most of the hair’s weight. It contains melanin
which provides color to the hair, stores oils, provides flexibility and
elasticity, and adds shape to the hair. When the cuticle is damaged and
exposes the cortex, hair looks dull and dry.
3. The medulla is an inner hollow core that runs the length of the shaft.
A pilomotor muscle, arrector pili, is attached to the side of each
follicle. It is stimulated by skin irritants, emotional arousal, or cold
temperatures, and reacts by contracting.
This causes goose flesh or goose pimples.

II. Glands
1. Sebaceous glands
• are oil glands.
• they have tiny ducts that open into each hair follicle. Each sebaceous gland
secretes sebum, rich in lipids, which lubricates the hair and skin.
• the amount of secretion varies with age, puberty, and pregnancy.
2. Sweat Glands
a. Eccrine Glands:
• Simple, coiled, tubular glands
• About 2 million are distributed over the surface of the body, more
numerous on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, forehead, and
axillae.
• Eccrine sweat glands have ducts that open onto the surface of the skin
called sweat pores.
• When the body temperature starts to rise above normal levels, the sweat
glands produce sweat, which evaporates and cools the body.
b. Apocrine Glands:
• Simple, coiled, tubular glands that produce a thick secretion rich in
organic substances.
• They open into hair follicles, but only in the armpits and genitalia.
• Becomes active in puberty because of sex hormones.
• Responsible for “body odor”
III. Nails
Nails consists of layers of dead stratum corneum cells that contain hard keratin structures that
protect the ends of the fingers and toes.

1. Nail body: visible part of the nail

2. Nail root: part of the nail covered by skin
3. Lunula: white, crescent-shaped area at the base of the nail.
4. The cuticle is also called the eponychium. It fuses the nail plate and the skin of the finger
together to form a waterproof barrier.
5. The hyponychium is under the free edge of the nail. It also creates a waterproof barrier,
fusing the skin of the finger to the underside of the nail plate.
6. Nails matrix and bed are epithelial tissue with a stratum basale that gives rise to the cells
that form the nail. Cell production with the nail matrix causes the nail to grow. Nails
grow continuously, approx. 1mm per week.

References/Additional Resources/Readings

Marieb, E. N. and Hoen, K. (2007). Human anatomy and physiology. 7th Edition. Pearson
Benjamin Cummings

https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/xue.pan/a-p-powerpoints-1/chapter-5
https://www.pharmanotes.org/2021/03/integumentary-system-notes-pptpdf.html