Melanocytes
CHAPTER 5: INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM - forms the boundary
between the body and the external
environment
FUNCTION OF THE INTEGUMENTARY
SYSTEM
Protection
- The skin is the covering of the body.
- Skin’s structure reduces the negative and
harmful effects of ultraviolet light.
- Keeps the microorganisms from entering
the body and reduces water loss from the
body, preventing breakdown.
Sensation
- I.S has sensory receptors that can detect
heat, cold, touch, pressure, and pain.
Temperature Regulation
- The skin regulates body temperature through
the modulation of blood flow through the skin
and the activity of sweat glands.
Vitamin D Production
- The skin produces a molecule that can be
transformed into vitamin D, an important
regulator of calcium homeostasis.
Excretion
- waste products are excreted through the skin
and glands in the form of sweat.
SKIN
- Made up of two major tissue layers, the
epidermis and dermis.
Epidermis (upon the dermis)
- superficial layer of the skin consisting of
stratified squamous epithelial tissue.
- resist abrasion on the skin’s surface and
reduce water loss.
- separated from the underlying dermis by a
basement membrane
- NO blood vessels
- The cells of the epidermis receive nutrients
and excrete waste products by diffusion of
substances between the epidermis and the
capillaries of the dermis.
- anchored to the basement membrane by
hemidesmosomes
- Desmosomes - provide structural strength
to the epidermis
CELL OF THE EPIDERMIS
Keratinocytes
- produce a protein mixture called keratin
which makes the cell more durable.
- give the epidermis its ability to resist
abrasion and reduce water loss.
- strengthen internally by keratin fibers
- produce the pigment melanin which
contributes to skin color.
Langerhans Cells
- part of the immune system
Merkel Cells
- Specialized epidermal cells
- responsible for detecting light touch and
superficial pressure.
FIVE STRATA OF THE EPIDERMIS
Stratum Basale/ Stratum germinativum
- deepest portion of the epidermis
- consist of a single layer of cuboidal or
columnar cells that continue to divide.
- pushed upward and become keratinized
when the daughters cells are formed
- keratinocyte stem cells of this layer undergo
mitotic divisions every 19 days
- 40-56 days to reach the epidermal surface
and slough off.
Stratum spinosum
- Superficial to the stratum basale
- known for its multilayer of distorted/spined
cells
- cells are becoming distorted as they are
pushed up from the stratum basale
- Lamellar bodies form inside the
keratinocytes
Stratum Granulosum
- superficial to stratum spinosum
- consists of 2-5 layers of flare and
diamond-shaped cells.
- As the cells are pushed up through this
stratum, they form the protein granules
called keratohyalin.
- if a cell leaves its stratum, the cell will die.
Stratum Lucidum
- A very thin layer present only in thick skin.
- consist of several layers of dead cells with
indistinct boundaries.
Stratum Corneum
- most superficial stratum of the epidermis
- composed of 25 or more layers of dead
keratinized tissue.
- protects deeper tissue of mechanical injury,
inward or outward diffusion of water and
other molecules, and invasion of
microorganisms
- consist of cornified cells.
THICK AND THIN SKIN
Thick Skin
- has all five epithelial layer
- found in areas subject to pressure or friction
such as palm, soles and fingertips.
Thin Skin
- cover the rest of the body
- more flexible
- where hair can be found
Callus
- forms when the stratum corneum of the
epidermis increases in thickness.
Corn
- occurs at bony prominences
- painful
- cone-shaped
SKIN COLOR
Melanin
- group of pigments primarily responsible for
skin, hair and eye color.
- Provides protection against ultraviolet light
from the sun.
- produced by melanocytes which produce
and package melanin into vesicles called
melanosomes
- freckles, moles, nipples, areolae, axillae
and genitilia contains more melanin
- lips, palms, soles contain less melanin
Albinism
- recessive genetic trait tat results from an
inability to produce tyrosinase.
- Deficiency or an absence of pigment in the
skin, hair, and the irises of the eyes.
During pregnancy, certain hormones, such as
estrogen and melanocyte-stimulating hormone
cause the mother’s baby to increased melanin
production which causes darkening of the nipples,
areolae, and genitalia
Erythema
- the skin turns a reddish hue when the
amount of blood flowing through the skin
increases.
- inflammatory response
Pallor
- decrease in blood flow
Cyanosis
- decrease in the blood oxygen content
- bluish skin color
Carotene
- Yellow pigment found in plants
- When large amounts of carotene are
consumed, the excess accumulates in the
stratum corneum and in adipocytes of the
dermis causing the skin to develop a
yellowish tint.
Jaundice
- a yellowish discoloration of the skin
- Associated with liver disorder, too much
carotene
Bronzing
- darkened skin pigmentation usually caused
by stimulant effect of excess
adrenocorticotropic hormones (ACTH) on the
melanocytes
- Associated with Addison’s Disease
Bruising
- blue to purple discoloration
SKIN CANCER
- result from damage caused by the UV
radiation in sunlight.
- there are 3 types of skin cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma
- the most common type
- affects the stratum basale
Squamous cell Carcinoma
- second most common type of skin cancer.
- affects cell in the stratum spinosum
- can appear as a wart like growth; a
persistent, scaly red patch, open sore
Melanoma
- least common but most deadly
DERMIS
- a connective tissue
- much thicker than the epidermis
- contain blood vessels that allow for nutrient
and waste exchange to the cells of the
dermis and the living cells of the epidermis.
- contains nerve endings for pain, itch, tickle,
and temperature sensations; hair follicles
receptor for light touch; pacinian
corpuscles for deep pressure; meissner
corpuscles for detecting simultaneous
stimulation at two points on the skin; and
ruffini end organs for sensing continuous
touch or pressure. It also contains smooth
muscles, glands, and lymphatic vessels.
TWO LAYERS OF THE DERMIS
Papillary Layer
- bumpy superficial portion of the dermis
- loose connective tissue with thin fibers that
are somewhat loosely arranged
- derived its name from projections, called
dermal papillae
- contains blood vessels that supply the
overlying epidermis with oxygen and
nutrients
- Dermal papillae lie in parallel, curving ridges
that shape the overlying epidermis into
fingerprint and footprints which gives the
hand and feet a better gripping ability.
Reticular Layer
- thick region of irregularly arranged protein
fibers that are resistant to stretching in many
directions.
- main layer of the dermis
- elastic and collagen fibers produce the
cleavage lines, or tension lines in the skin.
Stretch Marks
- scar that occurs when there is an
overstretching on the skin.
 SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE
- deep to the skin
- attaches the skin to underlying bone and
muscle and supplies the skin with blood
vessels and nerves
- consists of loose connective tissue with
collagen and elastic fibers
- Hypodermis - subcutaneous tissue that are
not part of the skin
- The cells within the subcutaneous tissue are
fibroblasts, adipocytes, and
macrophages.
INJECTIONS
- used to introduce certain substances, such
as medication and vaccines into the body.
Intradermal Injection
- used for the tuberculin skin test, goes in the
dermis.
- Administered by drawing the skin taut and
inserting a small needle at a shallow angle
into the skin.
Subcutaneous Injection
- extend into the subcutaneous tissue
- achieved by pinching the skin to form a tent,
into which a short needle is inserted
Intramuscular Injection
- reaches the muscle deep to the
subcutaneous tissue
- accomplished by inserting a long needle at a
90-degree angle to the skin.
ACCESSORY SKIN STRUCTURE
HAIR
- Found everywhere on the skin except the
palms, soles, lips, nipples, external genitalia,
and fingertips and toes
- Hair structure and coloration change as a
person ages.
- Lanugo- is a delicate, unpigmented hair that
occurs at the fifth or sixth month of fetal
development. Covered the fetus
- Terminal hairs - long, coarse, and
pigmented hair that replaces the lanugo of
the scalp, eyelids, and eyebrows that occurs
near the time of birth.
- Vellus Hairs - are short, fine, and usually
unpigmented and replaces the lanugo on the
rest of the body.
- Puberty - the terminal hair especially in the
pubic and axillary regions, replaces much of
the vellus hair.
Hair Structure
Shaft
- protrudes above the surface of the skin.
Root
- located below the surface
Hair Bulb
- expanded base of the root
Matrix
- inside the hair bulb
- epithelial cells
- produces the hair and the internal E.R.S
Hair Papilla
- covered with stratum germinativum produces
the hair
- contains blood vessels that provide
nourishment to the cells of the matrix
Hair follicle
- tubelike invagination of the epidermis that
extend to the dermis
- consist of a dermal root sheath which is the
portion of the dermis that surrounds the
epithelial root sheath
- Epithelial root sheath is divided into external
and internal parts.
External Epithelial Root Sheath
- has all the strata found in the thin skin
- for skin repair
Internal Epithelial Root Sheath
- raised edges that mesh closely with the
raised edges of the hair cuticle and hold the
hair in place.
- whitish tissue around the root of the hair
most of the root and shaft are composed
of columns of dead, keratinized epithelial
cells arranged in three concentric layers
Medulla
- central axis of the hair
- consist of two or three layers of cells
containing soft keratin.
Cortex
- surrounds the medulla and forms the bulk of
the hair
- contain hard keratin
Cuticle
- single layer of cells containing hard keratin.
- the edges of cuticle cells overlap like
shingles on a roof.
Hair Growth
- During the growth stage, a hair increases in
length as new matrix cells are produced,
differentiate, become keratinized, and die.
- During the resting stage, a new cycle
begins and a new hair replaces the old hair,
which falls out of the hair follicle
- Eyelashes grow for 30 days and rest for 105
days
- Scalp Hair grow for 3 years and rest for 1-2
years
Pattern Baldness
- most common type of permanent hair loss
Arrector Pili
- smooth muscle associated with each hair
follicle
- extend from the dermal root sheath of the
hair follicle to the papillary layer of the
dermis
 GLANDS Nail Matrix
- produces most of the nail.
Sebaceous Glands - made up of epithelial cells
- located in the dermis Nail Bed
- simple or compound alveolar glands that - located distally to the nail matrix and
produce sebum, an oily, white substance attaches to the nail
rich in lipids - made up of epithelial cells with a stratum
- classified as holocrine glands basale
- connected by a duct to the upper part of the Lunula
hair follicle. - small part of the nail matrix that can be seen
- prevents drying and protects against some through the nail body
bacteria - whitish crescent-shaped area at the base of
Sweat Glands the nail
- Eccrine Sweat Glands or merocrine sweat BURNS
glands are the most common type of sweat
gland - Injury to a tissue caused by heat, cold,
- ECCSG, are simple, coiled, tubular glands friction, chemical, electricity, or radiation.
that open directly onto the surface of the skin PARTIAL BURNS
through sweat pores.
- Apocrine Sweat Glands are simple, coiled, First-degree Burns
tubular glands that usually open into hair - damage only the epidermis
follicles superficial to the opening of the - result in redness, pain, and slight edema.
sebaceous glands. - can be caused by sunburn or brief exposure
- found in the axillae and genitalia and around to hot or cold objects. NO scarring
the anus Second-degree burns
- body odor and sex hormones - damage the epidermis and dermis.
- do not regulate temperature - if the dermal damage is minimal, symptoms
Ceruminous Glands include redness, pain, edema, and blister
- are modified eccrine sweat glands located in and will take 2 weeks to heal and no scarring
the ear canal - if the damage goes deep into the dermis, the
- cerumen or earwax is composed of the wound would appear red, tan, or white.
combined secretions of ceruminous glands - Will take several months to heal and might
and sebaceous glands. scar
- Cerumen and the hair of the ear protects FULL-THICKNESS BURNS
the tympanic membrane by preventing dirt
and small insects from moving deeply into Third-degree Burns
the ear canal - epidermis and dermis are completely
Mammary Gland destroyed and deeper tissue may be
- are modified apocrine sweat glands located involved.
in the breasts. - painless due to destroyed sensory nerves in
- Produce milk skin
NAILS - appear white, tan, brown, black, or deep
cherry red
- thin plate consisting of layers of dead - Long time to heal and may need skin graft
stratum corneum cells that contain a very BURN TREATMENT
hard type of keratin
Nail Root Split Skin Grafting
- covered by skin. Extend distally from the nail - a burn treatment procedure in which the
matrix epidermis and part of the dermis are
Nail Body removed from another part of the body and
- visible portion of the nail placed over the burn area
Nail Fold Debridement
- lateral and proximal edges of the nail that is - involves removal of dead tissue from the
covered by skin burn area that helps prevent infections by
cleaning the wound
Nail Groove SKIN DISEASE AND DISORDER
- edges held in place
Cuticle/ eponychium Birthmarks
- stratum corneum of the nail fold that grows - congenital disorder of the dermal capillaries
onto the nail body. Ringworm
Hyponychium - Fungal infection that produces patchy
- a thickened region of the stratum corneum scaling and inflammatory response in the
skin
Eczema and dermatitis
- Inflammatory conditions of the skin caused
by allergy, infection, poor circulation, or
exposure to chemical or environmental
factors
Psoriasis
- Chronic skin disease characterized by the
thicker than normal epidermal layer that
sloughs to produce large, silvery scales;
bleeding may occur if the scales are scraped
away
Vitiligo
- Development of patches of white skin where
melanocytes are destroyed, apparently by an
autoimmune response
Impetigo
- Small blisters containing pus; easily rupture
to form a thick, yellowish crust; usually
affects children
Erysipelas
- Swollen patches in the skin caused by the
bacterium streptococcus pyogenes
Decubitus Ulcers
- develop in people who are bedridden or
confined to a wheelchair; compression of
tissue and reduced circulation result in
destruction of the skin and subcutaneous
tissue, which later become infected by
bacteria, forming ulcers
Acne
- pimple
Rubeola (measles)
- Skin lesions; caused by a virus contracted
through the respiratory tract; may develop
into pneumonia or infect the brain, causing
damage

Rubella
- Skin lesions; usually mild viral disease
contracted through the respiratory tract; may
be dangerous if contracted during pregnancy
because the virus can cross the placenta
and damage the fetus
Chickenpox
- Skin lesions; usually mild viral disease
contracted through respiratory tract
Shingles
- Painful skin lesions; caused by the
chickenpox virus after childhood infection;
can recur when the dormant virus is
activated by trauma, stress, or another
illness
Cold Sores
- Skin lesions; caused by herpes simplex I
virus; transmitted by oral or respiratory
routes; lesions recur
Genital Herpes
- Genital lesions; caused by herpes simplex II
virus; transmitted by sexual contract