INTEGUMENTARY

SYSTEM
MARY JANE T. CABATAÑA, RN
Instructor, MC1
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this lecture, the students should be able to:

1. Describe the general functions of the human integumentary system.

2. Identify the different layers of the skin and describe their importance.
3. Discuss the purpose of appendages as part of the integumentary system
accessory.
 SKIN
• Body’s largest organ.
• Approximately 1.6-1.9 m².
 MAJOR FUNCTION
• Protection
• Sensation
• Vitamin D production
• Temparature Regulation
• Excretion
 EPIDERMIS
Cell types

 Keratinocytes- constitute over

90% of cells present.
 Melanocytes- pigment-producing
cells (5% of total).
 Langerhan cells- play a role in
immune response.
 CELL LAYERS
Stratum Corneum
◦Horny layer
◦Most superficial layer.
◦Barrier area.

Stratum Lucidum
◦Clear layer
◦Cells filled with keratin precursor called ELEIDIN.

Stratum Granulosum
◦Granular layer
◦Cells arranged in two or four layers and filled with keratohyaline granule.
 CELL LAYERS
Stratum Spinosum
◦Spiny layer
◦Cell as arranged in 8 o 10 layers with prominent desmosomes.

Stratum Basale
◦Single layer columnar cells.
◦Only cells that undergo mitosis.

Stratum Germinativum
◦Growth layer
◦Describes the stratum spinosum and stratum basale together.
 DERMAL AND EPIDERMAL
•
•
JUNCTION
A definite basement membrane.
Specilalized fibrous elements and a polysaccharide gel serve as “Glue”.

DERMIS
• Gives strength to the skin.
• Serves as a reservoir storage area for water and electrolytes.
• Contains specialized sensory receptors.
• Plays a critical role in temperature regulation.
 LAYERS OF DERMIS
Papillary Layer
• Composed of dermal papillae that project
into the epidermis.
• Contains fine collagenous and elastic fibers.
• Contains the epidermal and dermal junction.

Reticular Layer
• Contains dense interlacing white collagenous
fibers and elastic fibers to make the skin
tough yet stretchable.
 SKIN COLOR
• Basic determinant is quantity of melanin,
• Melanin is found in melanocytes from tyrosine.
• Carotene (Yellowish Color) can also contribute to skin color.
• Color changes also occur as a result of changes in blood flow to skin
and circulating levels of unoxygenated hemoglobin.
◦Albinism, cyanosis, vitiligo, jaundice
 FUNCTION OF THE SKIN
• Protection
◦Physical barrier.
◦Barrier to chemical hazards.
◦Reduces potential for mechanical trauma.
◦Prevents dehydration.
◦Surface film
• Sensation
• Movement without injury
• Excretion
• Vitamin D Production
• Immunity
 HOMEOSTASIS of BODY TEMPERATURES
• To maintain homeostasis of body temperature, heat production must
be equal to heat loss.
• Heat production
◦By metabolism of foods in skeletal muscles.
◦Affected by muscular work also.
• Heat Loss
◦Approximately 80% of heat loss occurs through the skin.
 PROCESSES
Evaporation
• ◦Is the only method by which heat can be lost from the skin.
• ◦Important at high environmental temperatures.

Radiation
• ◦Transfer of heat from one object to another without actual contact.
• ◦Important method of heat loss in cool environmental temperatures.

Conduction
• ◦Transfer of heat to any substance actually in contact with the body.
• ◦Accounts for relatively small amounts of heat loss.

Convection
• ◦Transfer of heat away from a surface by movement of air.
 BURNS
• Defined as injury or death to skin cells caused by heat, ultraviolet
light, electric current, or corrosive chemicals.
• Severity of burn injury is determined by depth of lesion and percent of
body surfaced burned.
• Estimating Body Surface Area
◦RULE OF PALMS
◦RULE OF NINES
 DEGREES
First Degree Burn
◦Minor pain
◦Some reddening of the skin
◦No blister, but some peeling of surface occurs.
◦No scarring
Second Degree Burn
◦Severe pain
◦Damage or destruction of epidermis and upper dermal layers.
◦Blisters form with swelling and edema.
Third Degree Burn
◦Total destruction of both epidermis and upper dermal layer.
◦Tissue death extends below level of hair follicles and sweat glands.
◦No immediate pain.
◦Burning may involve deep tissues, including muscle and bones.
◦Scarring is a serious problem.
 HAIR
Distribution
● Over the entire body except palms and
soles.
● Fine and soft hair coat existing before
birth is called LANUGO.
● Coarse pubic and axillary hair that
develop at puberty is called
TERMINAL HAIR.
● Hair follicles and hair develop from
epidermis.
 HAIR
Papilla
● Cluster of capillaries under germinal matrix

Root
● Part of hair embedded in follicle in dermis.

Shaft
● Visible part of hair

Medulla
● Inner core of hair, Cortex is the outer portion.

Growth
● Hair on head averages 5 inches of growth per year.

Sebaceous Gland
● Attached and secretes sebum into follicle.
 NAILS
Consist of epidermal cells converted to
hard keratin.

● Nail body- visible part of each nail.

● Root- part of nail in groove hidden by
fold of skin, the cuticle.
● Lunula.
● Nail bed- layer of epithelium under nail
body.
○ Growth- average
growth about 0.5
mm per week, or
 SKIN GLANDS
ECCRINE GLANDS
◦Most numerous sweat glands
◦Distributed over total body surface with exception of a few small areas.
◦Simple coiled tubular glands.

APOCRINE GLANDS
◦Located deep in subcutaneous layer.
◦Have limited distribution.
◦Large and often 5 mm in diameter.
◦Simple branched tubular glands.
◦Begin to function at puberty.
◦Secretion shows cyclic changes in female with menstrual cycle.
 SKIN GLANDS
SEBACEOUS GLAND
● Secretes sebum
● Lipid components have antifungal activity.
● Simple branched gland.
● Found in dermis except in hands and sole.
● Secretion increases in adolescence, may lead to formation of pimples and
blackheads.

CERUMINOUS GLANDS
● Modified apocrine sweat glands.
● Simple, coiled, tubular glands.
● Empty contents into external ear canal alone or with sebacious glands.
● Mixed secretions of sebacious and ceruminous glands called CERUMEN.
 SKIN
Children
● Skin is smooth, unwrinkled, and characterized by elasticity and flexibility.
● Has few sweat glands and has ability for rapid healing.

ADULTS
● Development and activation of sebacious and sweat glands as well as sebum
production.

OLD AGE
● Decreased sebacious and sweat gland activity hence; wrinkling and decrease
ability to tolerate to cold occurs.
 KEY POINTS FOR REVIEW
● The integumentary system consists of the skin, hair, glands, and nails.
● It contains main structures namely: 1) Epidermis and 2) Dermis.
● Accessory skin structures include: 1) Hair, 2) Glands, and 3) Nails.
● Physiology of the integumentary system includes: Protection, Sensation,
Vitamin D Production, Temperature production, and Excretion.
● Burns has main classifications: Partial-Thickness and Full-Thickness burns.
 READINGS AND REFERENCES
• VanPutte, C., Regan, J., & Russo, A. (2019). Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy &
Physiology 10th Edition. McGraw Hill

• Elaine Marieb (2014), Essential of Human Anatomy & Physiology

THANK
S!