Integumentary system

By Daniel M. (MSc in Medical physiology)

06/08/2023 Daniel M. ( MSc. Medical Physiology)

Introduction
• Two major components:
• Cutaneous membrane (skin)
• Epidermis - superficial
• Dermis – underlying connective tissue
• Accessory structures
• Hair, nails, exocrine glands
• Hypodermis (subcutaneous layer) – loose connective tissue under
the dermis
• Separates the integument from deeper tissues and organs
• Often not considered part of the integumentary system
Figure : The General Structure of the Integumentary System.

Cutaneous Membrane Accessory Structures

Hair shaft
Epidermis
Pore of sweat
gland duct
Papillary layer
Dermis Touch receptor
Reticular layer Sebaceous gland

Arrector pili muscle

Sweat gland duct

Hair follicle
Pressure receptor
Hypodermis
Nerve fibers
Sweat gland

Artery
Cutaneous
Vein plexus
Fat

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Functions

1. Protection and beauty

• Skin covers underlying tissues and prevents fluid loss
• Skin makes you to look stunning
2. Temperature maintenance
• Skin regulates heat exchange with the environment
3. Synthesis and storage of nutrients
• Epidermis synthesizes vitamin D3
• Dermis stores lipids in adipose tissue
Cont.

4. Sensory reception
• Receptors for pain, pressure, touch, and temperature detect stimuli
and send information to nervous system
5. Excretion and secretion
• Glands excrete salts, water, and organic wastes
• Specialized mammary glands secrete milk
 Skin
• Thin, relatively flat organ,
• Classified as a cutaneous membrane
• Two main layers
o Epidermis - outer, thinner
o Dermis - inner, thicker
• The two layers are separated by a basement membrane
 Epidermis
• Is stratified squamous epithelium, and avascular layer
• Thick skin has five layers (palms, soles)
• Thin skin has four layers (rest of body)
Layers are called strata, from deep to superficial
• Stratum basale
• Three intermediate layers
• Stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, and stratum lucidum
• Stratum corneum
 Stratum Basale
• Also called stratum germinativum
• Attached to basement membrane by hemi desmosomes
• Dermis has dermal papillae up into epidermis
• Ridges and papillae increase surface area for diffusion between
dermis and epidermis
• Contains basal or germinativum cells and Fingerprints are
determined.
 Intermediate Strata
• Stratum spinosum is the result of stem cell division
• Stratum granulosum cells make a lot of keratin
• A protein that provides water resistance and the foundation for hair
and nails
• Stratum lucidum cells are densely packed into a highly keratinized
layer, only found thick skin
 Stratum Corneum
• At exposed surface of the skin
• Contains 15–30 layers of keratinized dead cells
• Cells are connected via desmosomes and are therefore shed in large
groups (sheets rather than individuals)
• Takes 7-10 days to move from stratum basale to stratum corneum
• After two weeks in stratum corneum, shed or washed away
 Skin Color

• Role of pigmentation
• Melanin is brown, yellow-brown, or black, produced by melanocytes
near stratum basale cells, absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation protecting
deeper layers
• Freckles are areas of greater melanin production
• Small amount of UV – good for stimulating vitamin D
• Larger amounts cause burns
• Variations in skin color are due to differences in melanin production
not number of cells
 Interconnections with other Body Systems

Lymphatic System
Skeletal System
The skin, acting as a barrier, provides
Vitamin D activated by the skin helps an important first line of defense for
provide calcium for bone matrix. the immune system.
Digestive System
The skin, acting as a barrier, provides
an important first line of defense for
the immune system.

Nervous System Muscular System

Involuntary muscle contractions
Sensory receptors provide information
(shivering) work with the skin to control
about the outside world to the nervous
body temperature. Muscles act on facial
system. Nerves control the activity of
skin to create expressions.
sweat glands.
Respiratory System
Endocrine System
Stimulation of skin receptors may
Hormones help to increase skin alter respiratory rate.
blood flow during exercise.
Other hormones stimulate either Urinary System
the synthesis or the decomposition
The kidneys help compensate for
of subcutaneous fat.
water and electrolytes lost in
Cardiovascular System sweat.
Reproductive System
Skin blood vessels play a role in
regulating body temperature. Sensory receptors play an important
role in sexual activity and in the
suckling reflex.
Melanin and sunburn
 Albinism

• Light colored skin or hair

• Melanin is not produced in melanocytes even though of normal
abundance
 Dermis
• Made up of two layers
• Papillary Area: has projections up into the epidermal layer, provides
nutrients to the epidermis via its abundant blood vessels
• Reticular Area: denser, deeper, main area of the dermis, nerve
endings, hair follicles, smooth muscles, glands, and lymphatic vessels
all reside in the dermis.
 The Hypodermis
• Also called the subcutaneous layer
• Deep to the dermis without a clear line separating them
• Not actually part of the integument
• But stabilizes the skin to underlying tissues
• Made of areolar tissue with many adipose cells
 Hair and Hair Follicles
• Are accessory organs of the integumentary system.
• Hairs are nonliving structures produced in hair follicles.
• Project above the skin surface everywhere except; the soles of the
feet, palms of the hands, sides of the fingers and toes, the lips, and
portions of the external genitalia.
Cont.
• Hair matrix grows, making hair longer, and cells become keratinized
and die.
• Halfway to skin surface, it becomes the hair root
• Above the surface it is called the hair shaft
• Shaft has three layers of dead cells
• From outer to inner: cuticle, cortex, and medulla
 Functions of Hair

• Protects the scalp UV light, help cushion from light blow, insulates.

• Prevents entry of foreign particles into nose, eyes, and ears.

• Expresses emotional state by hair standing up, due to contraction of

arrector pili (APM) muscle.
Hair Color

• Differences due to type and amount of melanin from melanocytes

• Genetically determined

• Aging results in less pigment production

• Causing gray or white hair
• Due to lack of pigment and bubbles in air shaft
 Sebaceous Glands

• Secrete oily sebum into the hair follicle

• secreted when arrector pili muscles contract – squeezes sebaceous
glands and forces secretions into hair follicles.
• Lubricates and inhibits growth of bacteria

• Sebaceous follicles secrete sebum directly onto:

• Skin of face, back, chest, nipples, and external genitalia
Cont.
• Sebaceous glands are sensitive to hormonal changes – accelerate at
puberty
• Inflamed glands can result in acne
Sweat Glands
• Also called sudoriferous glands
• Include two types
1. Apocrine sweat glands
2. Merocrine sweat glands
 Apocrine Sweat Glands
• Become active at puberty
• Secrete sticky, cloudy sweat into hair follicles in armpits, around
nipples, and in the pubic region
• Sweat is food source for bacteria on skin, increasing odor
 Merocrine Sweat Glands

• Also called eccrine sweat glands

• Very numerous with high numbers on soles and palms
• Coiled tubular structure secretes watery perspiration directly onto
surface of skin
• Sweat also contains electrolytes, urea, and organic nutrients
• Sodium chloride gives it the salty taste
• Function is to cool body through evaporation
 Modified Sweat Glands
• Mammary glands
• Secrete milk
• Ceruminous glands
• Secrete a waxy substance that combines with sebaceous oils to
form earwax
Nails
• Protect tips of fingers and toes
• Visible nail body
• Made of dense, keratinized cells recessed under surrounding epithelium
• Nail bed
• Deeper level of epithelium covered by nail body
• Nail root
• Where the nail is produced
• Covered by the cuticle
• Lunula
• Pale crescent near root
Figure : The Structure of a Nail.

Free edge

Nail body

Nail root Cuticle

(site of growth) (eponychium) Lunula Nailbed

Epidermis Dermis Bone of fingertip

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Homeostatic Control of Body Temperature
Cont.
 Vitamin D
• Functions as a hormone for the incorporation of ingested calcium into
the bones.
• Skin exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun converts pro Vitamin
D to Vitamin D3.
• Vitamin D3 is then modified in the liver & kidney to Vitamin D.
• In northern latitudes, many months of the year sun exposure is
inadequate for the necessary amount of Vitamin D to be manufactured
and supplements containing Vitamin D3 are necessary.
 Effects of Aging on the Integument
• Skin injuries and infections are more common
• Likely due to a thinning of the epidermis
• Sensitivity of immune system is reduced
• Mainly due to a decrease of macrophages residing in the skin
• Muscles become weaker and bone strength decreases
• Due to a decline in vitamin D3
Cont.
• Sensitivity to sun exposure increases
• Due to lower amount of melanin production
• Skin becomes dryer and flakier
• Due to reduction in glandular secretions
• Hair thins and loses color
• Due to low-functioning follicles and decreased melanocyte activity
• Sagging and wrinkling of the skin occurs
• Due to decrease in elastic network, more noticeable when skin
has been exposed to a lot of sunlight
 Skin cancers
• Basal cell carcinoma is most common
• Originating in stratum basale
• Squamous cell carcinoma found in more superficial layers
• Both of these are treatable in most cases
• Surgical removal of tumor is most common treatment
Cont.
• Malignant melanoma is most dangerous
• Usually begins from a mole, and can metastasize through the
lymphatic system
• Survival depends on when detected and when treatment begins.
• Avoiding UV radiation by using sunblock can help prevent all three
types
Skin Cancers
 Thank you

06/08/2023 Daniel M ( MSc. Medical Physiology)