The

Integumentary
System
DR. FATIMA REHMAN
 Integumentary System
◦ Consists of skin, hair, nails and various glands

◦ 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 5-1 The General Structure of the Integumentary System.

Accessory Structures
Cutaneous Membrane
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
Five General Functions of the
Integument
1. Protection
◦ Skin covers underlying tissues and prevents fluid loss

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

Five General Functions of the Integument

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
 The Epidermis
Is stratified squamous epithelium
◦ 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
Figure 5-2 The Structure of the Epidermis.

Surface

Stratum
corneum

Stratum
lucidum

Stratum
granulosum

Stratum
spinosum
Stratum basale
Basement
membrane
Dermis
Thick skin LM x 210
 Stratum Basale
Forms epidermal ridges down into dermis

Dermis has dermal papillae up into epidermis

Epidermis is avascular

Contains basal or germinative cells

 Stratum Basale
Contours of skin follow ridge patterns
Ridge contours are genetically determined => unique to each person and don’t change
Fingerprints – ridge patterns of the fingers
Intermediate Strata
Stratum spinosum – also called prickle cell layer, makes the skin flexible
and strong

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 thick skin
 Stratum Corneum
At exposed surface of the skin
Contains 15–30 layers of keratinized or cornified dead cells
Takes 7-10 days to move from stratum basale to stratum corneum
After two weeks in stratum corneum, shed or washed away
Layers of epidermis
Skin Color
Role of pigmentation
◦ Carotene is orange-yellow, accumulates in epidermis, and comes
from orange-colored foods
◦ Can be converted to vitamin A

◦ Required for normal maintenance of epithelial tissues

◦ Synthesis of photoreceptors in the eye

 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
 Melanocytes
in stratum
basale
Melanin
pigment
Basement
Melanocyte membrane
s Melanocytes LM x 600

Melanosome

Melanin
pigment
Melanocyte

Basement
membrane
 The Dermal Papillary & Reticular
Layer
Named for the dermal papillae

Just deep to, and projects up into, the

epidermis

Contains capillaries and nerves supplying

the epidermis
 Interwoven meshwork of dense,
irregular connective tissue
 Elastic and collagen fibers are present
 Combine to establish the right
balance of flexibility and stability
The Dermal Reticular Layer
Interwoven meshwork of dense, irregular connective tissue
◦ As well as mixed in cells of connective tissue proper

Elastic and collagen fibers are present

◦ Combine to establish the right balance of flexibility and stability

Collagen fibers extend from up into the dermal papillae

◦ Down into the hypodermis
Figure 5-1 The General Structure of the Integumentary System.

Accessory Structures
Cutaneous Membrane
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
 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

 Baby fat – cushions and reduces heat loss
Hair and Hair Follicles
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
Hair and Hair Follicles
Are accessory organs of the integumentary system

3 parts: follicle, papilla and matrix

Epidermal layers invaginate into the dermis to form hair follicles

Epithelium at the base of follicle caps over the hair papilla

 Connective tissue that contains capillaries and nerves

Epithelial stem cells divide to form hair matrix surrounding the papilla
Hair Follicles and Hair.
Sebaceous gland
Hair shaft

Hair

Hypodermis

Connective tissue sheath

of hair
Cortex
Medulla
Hair matrix
Hair papilla

In this section of skin of the

scalp, notice that the two hair
follicles extend into the hypo-
dermis.
 Sebaceous Glands of the Skin
•Secrete oily sebum into the hair follicle
◦ Secreted when errector pili muscles
contract – squeezes sebaceous glands
and forces secretions into hair follicle
◦ Lubricates and inhibits growth of bacteria

•Sebaceous follicles secrete sebum

directly onto:
◦ Skin of face, back, chest, and external
genitalia
 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
The Structure of a Nail

Free edge

Nail body

Nail root Cuticle

(site of growth) (eponychium) Lunula Nailbed

Epidermis Dermis Bone of fingertip

Thank you!