Integumentary System of

Invertebrates

Prepared by:
Nerizza Anne Q. Lozano
 Contents
 Introduction of Integument
 Integumentary System of Invertebrates
 Integumentary System of Unicellular Invertebrates
 Integumentary System of Multicellular Invertebrates
 Examples of Integument in Different Groups of
Invertebrates Animals
 INTRODUCTION
 The integument (Integumentum, cover) is the external
covering of an animals.

 The integumentary system helps maintain a constant

body temperature, protects the body, and provides
sensory information about the surrounding
environment.
 Functions of Integument

 Protection from mechanical and chemical injury

 Protection from invasion of microorganisms
 Helps in regulation of body temperature
 Involved in excretion of waste materials
 Converts sunlight into vitamin D
 Reception of environmental stimuli
 Helps in Locomotion
 Absorption of nutrients
 Gases exchange
 INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
OF INVERTEBRATES

Invertebrates are animals without a backbone or bony

skeleton.
 INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM OF
UNICELLULAR INVERTEBRATES
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM IN PROTOZOAN

“Animal Like” Paramecium aurella “Plant Like” Euglena viridis

“Fungus Like” Fulgo Septic “Colonial Algae” Volvox corteri

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM IN PROTOZOAN

PLASMA MEMBRANE; PELLICLE

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM IN PROTOZOAN
PLASMA MEMBRANE
Some single-celled protozoa have only a plasma membrane for an
external covering

Function
 Respiration and excretion

PELLICLE
Protozoa, such as Paramecium, have a thick protein coat called a
pellicle (L. pellicula, thin skin) outside the plasma membrane.

Function
 Protection
 Locomotion
 INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM OF
MULTICELLULAR INVERTEBRATES

Composed of skin and some modified structures

Cuticle/shell/tegument
 INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM OF
MULTICELLULAR INVERTEBRATES

SKIN
Composed of following layers of cells
1. Epidermis (cilia, glandular cells)
2. Basement membrane
3. Connective tissues
Integument of Invertebrates
 INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM OF
MULTICELLULAR INVERTEBRATES

Some invertebrates possess cuticle (L. cuticula, cutis, skin)

Cuticle: a dead layer of polysaccharides and

proteins present in the animals is called cuticle
 INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM OF
MULTICELLULAR INVERTEBRATES

Structure of Cuticle: It is highly variable in structure

Thin and elastic Thick and rigid

Rotifers
 INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM OF
MULTICELLULAR INVERTEBRATES

Chemical composition of Cuticle:

Chemically cuticle is composed of chitin and
proteins.
NOTE: A disadvantage of cuticles is that animals have difficulty
growing within them.
 INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM OF
MULTICELLULAR INVERTEBRATES

SOLUTION: MOLTING/ECDYSIS
MOLTING/ECDYSIS
The periodic shedding of
exoskeleton of cuticle for growth
is called molting/ecdysis

Shedding of
Cuticle
 INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM OF
MULTICELLULAR INVERTEBRATES
SHELL
Some cnidarians (e.g.,
corals) have mucous
glands that secrete a
calcium carbonate
(CaCO3) shell.
SHELL

 Mollusks secrete a hard and rigid shell.

 Their epidermis contains mucous
glands.
 These glands secrete a calcium
carbonate (CaCO3) shell.
TEGUMENT
The outer covering of parasitic flukes and tapeworms is a complex
syncytium (multinucleated cell) called a tegument (L. tegumentum,
tegere, to cover).
 Its main functions are nutrient ingestion and protection against
digestion by host enzymes.

Tapeworm Sheep Liver Fluke

 INTEGUMENT IN DIFFERENT GROUPS OF
INVERTEBRATES ANIMALS

 Nematodes and annelids

 Echinoderms: they have thin, usually ciliated epidermis.
 Dermis is composed of connective tissue. These connective-tissues
contain CaCO3

Echinoderms have spiny skin Phylum Echinodermata

 Epidermis
• Spines
 Dermis with ossicles
INTEGUMENT IN DIFFERENT GROUPS
OF INVERTEBRATES ANIMALS
 Arthropods: they have the most complex integument. A
part of their integument form exoskeleton.
 SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION OF COVER FUNCTION DEPENDS
INTEGUMENT ON NATURE
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM OF
INVERTEBRATES
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM OF PLASMA MEMBRANE/PELLICLE
UNICELLULAR INVERTEBRATES

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM OF SKIN/CUTICLE/SHELL/TEGUMENT

MULTICELLULAR INVERTEBRATES

EXAMPLES OF INTEGUMENT IN DIFFERENT GROUPS OF

INVERTEBRATES
NEMATODES AND EPIDERMIS THAT IS MULTILAYERED CUTICLE
ANNELIDS ONE CELL THICK
ECHINODERMS THIN, USUALLY CaCO3 CONTAINING
CILIATED EPIDERMIS CONNECTIVE TISSUES
ARTHROPODS COMPLEX INTEGUMENT PART OF INTEGUMENT FORM
EXOSKELETON