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The Integumentary
System
Skin (cutis) is the heaviest & largest organ of the body (=16% of the total
body weight) approximately 5kg . It is the outer covering of body & it
continuous with mucous membrane in the region of mouth, nose,
urogenital organs & anus.
Type: I- Thick skin found in palm & sole 4mm
II- Thin skin found elsewhere in the body o.5 mm on the eyelids

Both type of skin are composed of:

I- Epidermis: of ectodermal origin
II- Dermis: of mesodermal origin
III- Hypodermis
Thin Skin
Thick Skin
 Epidermis
General features
It is the outer most layers, it consist of a stratified keratinized epithelium.
The principal cell type in the epidermis is the keratinocyte, so named
because the cell is specialized to produce large amounts of the protein
keratin. In addition to keratinocytes the epidermis consist of
melanocytes cell, Langerhans cells & Merkels cell.
The epidermis consists of five cell layers, which are more distinct in thick
skin start from below to upward:
 A- Stratum Basale

The stratum basale is the deepest layer of the epidermis & consist of a
single layer of cuboidal or columnar cells that lie on a basal lamina.
Cells undergoing mitosis are typical of this layer, gives rise to all other
Keratinocytes that undergo upward migration & mature to form
flattened cells.
B- Stratum spinosum

1- Cells of the stratum spinosum are polygonal. It

consist of 4-6 rows of cells
2- Cells in this layer are interconnected by
desmosomes, giving a spiny appearance after tissue
preparation.
Stratum Spinosum with spiny cell projections (arrow)
C- Stratum granulosum

1- - The stratum granulosum consists of 3-5 layers of

flattened polygonal cells.
2- These cells are filled with keratohyalin granules, give
its granular appearance
D- Stratum lucidum

The stratum lucidum is a translucent, thin layer that is most apparent in

thick skin.
E- Stratum corneum

1- The stratum corneum consists of 15-20 layers of

flattened keratinized dead cells which do not have
nuclei.
2- Cells of this layer are continuously shed at the
surface, and renewal occurs approximately every 4
weeks.
Meissner’s Corpuscle within a dermal papilla
Cells of epidermis

A. melanocytes

It is a dendritic cell; it is a pigment producing cell

that derived from neural crest. It situated in the
basal cell layer & hair follicles, they constitute 10%
of cells in this layer. Its function is to synthesis &
secret melanin which is responsible for the color of
skin and hair
i
Thin Skin with Melanocytes
Thin Skin with melanocytes (arrows)
B. Langerhans' cells
• Langerhans' cells are found primarily in the stratum spinosum
• These cells are actually bone marrow-derived macrophages that are
capable of binding, processing, & presenting antigens to T lymphocytes,
thus, these cells play a role in immunologic skin reaction.
70
 C- Merkel's cells
• It is a neural crest origin, present within the basal cell layer of epidermis.
• Merkel's cells are found primarily in thick of the palm & sole in the
stratum basale. It has a neurosecretory function & touch receptor.

Tactile
Dermoepdermal junction
They consist of 4 layers by electron microscope.
a- Plasma membrane of basal cell layer with special attachment plate
(hemidesmosomss).
b- Electron lucent zone (lamina Lucida).
c- Basal lamina (lamina densa).
d- Anchoring fibrils & collagen fibers of the dermis
 The Dermis and
Subcutaneous Layers
 Dermis

General feature
The dermis, which consist of two layers; a superficial papillary layer & a
deeper reticular layer of CT (supports the epidermis & binds it to the
hypodermis). The papillary layer is a relatively thin layer of loose connective
tissue that lies immediately beneath the epidermis. It not only binds the
epidermis to deeper tissues, but also supports the microcirculation and
nerve supply of the epidermis.
The reticular layer of the dermis is a relatively thick layer of dense
irregular connective tissue. The thickness of the reticular layer
varies among the different skin regions. It also supports the larger
blood vessels and nerves that supply the microcirculation and
nerve supply penetrating the upper papillary layer.
It consist of fibers & cells, the fibers mainly collagen fibers 70-80% in
addition to elastic fibers & reticular fibers, these are embedded in a
mucopolysaccharide ground substance. The dermis also consist of many
cells which are mast cells, fibroblast, leukocyte & histiocyte, in addition
the dermis contain blood vessels, nerves, lymphatics & muscles.
 The Dermis

Papillary
Dermis

Reticular
Dermis
Blood and nerve supply

1- The dermis is rich in blood and lymph vessels.

2- Dermal vessels account for 4.5% of the blood supply
at any one time.
3- This consists of superficial & deep vascular
plexuses, connected together & embedded in the
connective tissue stroma of the dermis. From these
plexuses, numerous small capillaries arise that
regulates body temperature and nourishment of the
epidermis, which lack blood vessel. The dermis has a
supply of nerves from sympathetic ganglia of the
Paravertebral chain.
Hypodermis
Subcutaneous : Consist of adipose tissue, large blood vessels & nerves.
The subcutis may also contain the base of hair follicles & sweet glands.
 Hair

General features
A hair is an elongated keratinized structure present all
over the body surface; they are absent in a few areas
of the body, including the palms, soles, umbilicus,
nipples, glans penis, clitoris & labia minora. It is
derived from invagination of the epidermal epithelium
toward the dermis.
The hair follicle consists of 3 parts:
1-Infundibulum: - is the part from skin surface to the sebaceous gland.
2- Isthmus: - it extends from the entrance of sebaceous gland to the
insertion of arrector Pilli muscle.
3- Hair bulb: - from attachment of arrector Pilli muscle to the base of hair
follicle.
Histological the hair follicles consist of
1. The dermal papilla
2. The matrix
3. The hair shaft, consisting from inward to outward the medulla, cortex, and
cuticle
4. The inner root sheath (IRS)
5. The outer root sheath (ORS).
6. The CT sheath
Cross section through a hair follicle and hair shaft
The arrector pili muscle, consisting of smooth muscle, connects the CT
sheath to the papillary layer of the dermis. Contraction of the
arrector pili muscle lead to depression of the skin which produces
goose flesh appearance .
Germinal matrix of
a hair follicle
 TEM of a cross
section through
a hair follicle and
hair shaft
Gland of the skin

A-Sebaceous glands

• Sebaceous gland is found over most of the body except

palm & sole .
• They are acinar gland opens into the upper portion of
the hair follicle.
• The function of sebum may have some antibacterial or
antifungal properties
Sebaceous glands associated with hair follicles
Sebaceoua Gland and Arrector Pili muscle
Sweat gland

1.Eccrine sweat glands

• Eccrine glands are simple, coiled tubular glands,
whose ducts open at the surface of the skin.
• The secretory segment is found in the dermis, &
surrounding myoepithelial cells aid in the secretion
process. the myoepithelial cells are contractile with a
smooth muscle like characteristics.
• The excretory ducts are lined by stratified cuboidal
epithelium.
• The fluid secreted by these glands is not viscous but consist of water,
sodium chloride, & urea.
• On the skin surface, sweat evaporates, cooling the surface & decreases
the body temperature by evaporation, it also helps to maintain the
pliability of the keratin, and it decreases friction on the palm and soles.
2-Apocrine sweat glands
I
• Apocrine glands are larger than eccrine glands, & their
ducts open into the hair follicle. 2
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• The viscous secretion is initially odorless, but with
bacterial decomposition it acquires its distinctive odor.
• Become functional at5 puberty, when sex hormones are
present They found in the axilla, groin & nipple.

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Sweat glands and Pacinian corpuscle at the dermal/subQ border
Sweat Glands (Sg) and
Ducts (arrow)

Sg
Sweat gland with double layered duct
Nails
Nails are hard translucent plates of keratin derived from invagination of
epidermis on the dorsum of terminal phalanx of the digit. Nail plates rest
on the nail bed, each nail has proximal, distal & two lateral nail folds. The
site of synthesis of nail plate is the nail matrix which lie under proximal
nail fold. The nail plate has semitranslucent half moon appearance called
lunula. A band of horny layer under the 1mm of proximal nail plate called
cuticle.
 Igm

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Functions of skin
1- Protection against chemicals, particles, ultra violet
radiation, antigens and bacteria.
2- Prevents loss of water and electrolytes.
3- Temperature regulation through blood vessels and
eccrine sweat glands.
4- Shock absorber through dermis and subcutaneous
fat.
5- Vitamin D3 synthesis.
6- It is regarded as an important cosmetic organ
7- Lubrication through sebaceous glands.

8- Sensory appreciation of environment (receptor

organ), skin has receptors that sense touch, pressure,
pain and temperature.

9- Produce melanin, that protect the human body

against the sun's ultra-violet rays

10- Excretion through sweating of water, sodium

chloride, urea & nitrogenous waste