ECTODERM

- It is the epithelium that covers the external surfaces of the body (Epidermis of the skin and its
appendages and epithelium of the cornea of the eye)
- The outermost layer among the three primary germ layers that is the source of various tissues
and structures.

SKIN

- Heaviest organ of our body

- It weighs about 16% of the total body weight

FUNCTIONS OF THE SKIN:

- Skin protects and regulates the body surfaces, and;

- Serves as a sense organ

TWO TYPES OF SKIN

1. Thick Skin – Found in the palms and soles of foot

- Consists of 5 layers

2. Thin Skin – Rest of our body

- Has all the layers except stratum lucidum

TWO MAIN LAYERS OF SKIN

1. Epidermis
2. Dermis

EPIDERMIS

- Top or outermost layer of the skin

- Composed of keratined, stratified squamos epithelium
- Made of four or five layers of epithelial cells, depending on its location in the body.
- Protects the body from the environment
- Provide a waterproof barrier and creates our skin tone
- Epidermis varies in different types of skin (e.g. 05 mm thick on the eyelids and 1.5 mm thick on
the palms and soles of the feet)
- The epidermis layer itself is made up of five sublayers that work together to continually rebuild
the surface of the skin

FIVE (5) LAYERS OF EPIDERMIS

1. STRATUM BASALE – Also called Stratum germinativum

- Is the deepest epidermal layer and attaches the epidermis to the basal lamina
- Single layer of cells primarily made of basal cells.
- Basal cell is a cuboidal or columnar-shaped cells which lies on the basement membrane
 2. STRATUM SPINOSUM
- A spiny in appearance due to the protruding cell processes that join the cells via structure called
desmosome.
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3. STRATUM GRANULOSUM
- Grainy appearance
- 3 to 5 layers of polygonal flattened cells
- This layer is filled with coarse granules called kerato-hyaline granules

4. STRTUM LUCIDUM
- A smooth, seemingly translucent layer of epidermis
- Composed of flattened eosinophilic cells
- Found only in the thick skin of palms and soles

5. STRATUM CORNEUM
- Layer exposed to the outside environment
- Composed of flattened non-nucleated keratinized cells
- 15 – 20 layer of cells

DERMIS
- Composed of connective tissue that supports the epidermis and binds it to the hypodermis
- The main functions of the dermis are to regulate temperature and supply the epidermis with
nutrient saturated blood.
- Much of the body’s water supply is stored within the dermis.
- Dermis consists 2 indistinct boundaries namely Papilary Layer and Reticular Layer.

2 LAYERS WITH INDISTINCT BOUNDARIES

1. Papillary Layer – Outermost layer of the skin; made of loose connective tissue, supporting the
hydration of the skin
2. Reticular Layer – Dermis proper; made of irregular connective tissue which resists forces in
many directions attributing the flexibility of the skin

- Dermis layer contains skin specialized cells and structures including:

1. Blood vessel – responsible for the supplication of nutrients and oxygen to the skin and take
away cell waste and products. It also transports the vitamin D produced in the skin back to
the rest of the body.
2. Lymph Vessel – Bathe the tissues of the skin with lymph (a milky substance that contains the
infection -fighting cells of the immune system). These cells work to destroy any infection or
invading organisms
3. Hair Follicles – a tube-shaped sheath that is under the skin and nourishes the hair
4. Sweat Glands –
2 types of sweat glands.
- Apocrine glands are specialized glands found only in armpits and pubic area. Secretes milky
sweat that encourages the growth of the bacteria responsible for body odor.
 - Eccrine glands are true sweat glands, found over the entire body. Regulates body temperature
by bringing water via pores to the surface of the skin. These glands can produce 1 to 2 liters of
sweat an hour. They secrete mostly water.

FROG SKIN

Characteristics of frog skin: soft, shiny and slippery

- Frog’s skin is critical to their survival. They rely on the extra oxygen they absorb through their
skin especially when they are underwater.
- As we all know frogs have different colors and color patterns.

CHROMATOPHORES – are the cells that contain pigments or reflect light in order to display certain
colors. There are three types of chromatophores

1. Melanophores – black and brown pigment

2. Iridophores – white, transparent/reflective pigments

3. Xanthophores – yellowish pigment

SPINAL CORD

- The spinal cord is a long, fragile tube-like structure that begins ate the end of the brain stem and
continues down to the bottom of the spine.
- Spinal cord is the main pathway for information connecting the brain and peripheral nervous
system.
- It consists of nerves that carry incoming and outgoing messages between the brain and the rest
of the body

The spinal cord is made up of gray and white matter.

1. Gray Matter – creates a hornlike structure throughout the inside of the spinal cord. It extends from
the brain to the spinal cord.

- Contains neuronal cell bodies and interneurons

- The projection of the grey matter (the wings) are called horns

2. White Matter – Surrounds the gray matter

- Composed of bundles of myelinated nerve cells processes (axons)

- It contains pathways that connect the brain with the rest of the body.

EYE

- The eye is an organ of sight

- It is a slightly asymmetrical globe in shape
- About an inch in diameter

PARTS OF THE EYE

1. CONJUNCTIVA – The clear tissue covering the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the
eyelids

2. SCLERA – The outer layer of the eye. This the “white” part of the eye

3. CORNEA – The clear, dome-shaped window of the front of the eye. It focuses light to the eye

4. ANTERIOR CHAMBER – A fluid filled space found behind the cornea. The liquid/fluid in the anterior
chamber is called AQUEMOS HUMOR

5. IRIS – The colored part of the eye. It controls the size of your pupil to let light into your eye. It is
located behind the anterior chamber

6. PUPIL – The opening at the center of the iris that allows light to enter the eye.

- Muscles in the iris dilate (widen) or constrict (narrow) the pupil to control the amount of light reaching
the back of the eye

7. LENS – The clear part of the eye behind the colored iris. It helps to focus light on the retina so you can
see

8. VITREOUS HUMOR – A jelly like substance that fills the middle of the eye/VITREOUS CAVITY. It
nourishes the inside of the eye and helps the eye to hold its shape.

9. RETINA – It is the layer of cells lining in the back wall inside the eye. This layer senses light and sends
signals to the brain so you can see

10. MACULA – A tiny but specialized area of the retina that is responsible for giving us detailed central
vision.

- PERIPHERAL RETINA – Area of the retina, outside the macula. It is the other side of the retina that
provides us our peripheral/side vision and night vision.

11. OPTIC NERVE – A nerve at the back of the eye that is connected to the brain. Sends light signal to the
brain