ACTIVITY 3: INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

The integumentary system is body's first defense from harmful agents. It also serves as a
“communication tool” and helps in thermoregulation. It is tough enough to resist more environmental
assaults, yet soft enough to respond to the gentlest touch. It consists of the skin, hair, nails, sweat and
sebaceous glands, and associated smooth muscle and nervous tissue.

OBJECTIVES
1. Describe the structures and functions of the integumentary system.
2. Recognize and name the epidermal and dermal layers, hair follicles and hair, and the accessory glands
during observation of diagram, models, and references in the internet.
3. Compare and contrast the features of thick skin and thin skin.
4. Classify one's thumbprints/fingerprints.

MATERIALS
Fine felt-tipped markers (2 different colors)
One 5 peso coins
Metric ruler
Prepared slides of human skin (Internet)
Reference book
Virtual Skin Model
Stamp pad and ink

A. HISTOLOGY OF THE SKIN AND HAIR

1. Search the internet for a model of a skin and label its parts in your laboratory report.
2. Search again the internet for a prepared skin slides (thick and thin) observed under medium power
objective lens of a compound microscope. Copy the images shown in the internet of a thick and thin skin
and paste it on the space provided in your laboratory report.
3. View a prepared slide of hair follicle from the internet observed under medium power objective lens.
4. Answer by labeling the parts of the structure of hair on the space provided in your laboratory report.

B. TESTING TACTILE LOCALIZATION

1. This activity should be done by twos. Choose a partner (a classmate, housemate, dorm mate, etc.…),
the subject's eyes should be closed during this activity. The experimenter touches the palm of the
subject's hand with a black pointed felt-tipped marker. The subject then tries to touch the exact mark
with his or her own different colored marker. Measure the color of localization in millimeters.
2. Repeat the test in the same spot twice more, recording the error of localization for each test. Get the
average of all the results and record it in the laboratory report.
3. Take a photo or photos of you and your partner doing the experiment and attach it on Istudy. I will
make a location to attach your documentation.

C. DEMONSTRATING ADAPTION OF TOUCH RECEPTORS

1. This activity should be done by twos. Choose a partner (a classmate, housemate, dorm mate, etc.…)
the subject's eyes should be closed during this testing. Place a coin in the different areas of the skin
indicated in the laboratory report.
2. Repeat the test, placing the coin at a different forearm location.
3. Take note how long (in seconds) it takes after the awareness of the sensation has been lost and
record your result in your laboratory report.
4. Take a photo or photos of you and your partner doing the experiment and attach it on Istudy. I will
make a location to attach your documentation.

D. THERMORECEPTION
1. This activity should be done by twos. Choose a partner (a classmate, housemate, dorm mate, etc.…)
Get two small cups or glass of different temperatures (hot and cold).
2. Brush a small amount of water from one cup or glass on the arm of your partner using a small paint
brush. Your partner should not be informed which water was used and should not look while you do this
procedure.
3. Brush the same amount of water from the other beaker on the same spot.
4. Ask your partner to rate the coldness or warmth on the scale of 1 to 10, with 1 the coolest and 10 the
hottest.
5. Repeat the procedures using different combination but make sure to wipe the skin clean with paper
towel before the next test. Allow 30 secs to a minute between tests.
6. Record your observation in your laboratory report.
7. Take a photo or photos of you and your partner doing the experiment and attach it on Istudy. I will
make a location to attach your documentation.

E. FINGERPRINTING
1. Identify your own fingerprints on left and right hand.
2. Be able to classify your fingerprints whether its whorl, loop, or arch.
3. Answer the box below by writing and classifying your prints both in left and right hand.
 LABORATORY REPORT: INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
Name: KARL GABRIEL S. MAGPANTAY Score: ____________________
Date Performed: _________________________________ Lab Section: _______________

HISTOLOGY OF THE SKIN

Label the parts of the skin using the 3D model online and write you answer on the space provided.

A. Epidermal ridges
B. Dermal papilae
C. Meissner corpuscle (Corpuscle of touch)
D. Arrector pili muscle
E. Hair root
F. Eccrine sweat gland
G. Lamellated (Pacinian) corpuscle
H. Adipose tissue
I. Sensory Nerve
J. Artery
K. Vein
L. Apocrine sweat gland
M. Subcutaneous layer (hypodermis)
N. Dermis
O. Sebaceous gland
P. Epidermis
Q. Free nerve ending
R. Hair Shaft
S. Sweat pore

ANATOMY OF HAIR
Label the parts of hair using the 3D model online and write you answer on the space provided.
A. Medulla
B. Cortex
C. Cuticle
D. Internal root sheath
E. External root sheath
F. Dermal root sheath
G. External root sheath
H. Internal root sheath
I. Cuticle of the hair
J. Cortex
K. Blood vessels
L. Blood vessels
M. Melanocyte
N. Hair matrix
TESTING TACTILE LOCALIZATION:
BODY PARTS TRIAL 1 (mm) TRIAL 2 (mm) TRIAL 3 (mm) AVERAGE (mm)
Cheeks
Lips
Back of Neck
Forearm
Back of Hand
Palm
Fingertip
Questions:
Which part of the body is the most sensitive?
Fingertip

Which part of the body is the least sensitive?

Which type of receptor is probably responsible for sensations felt in this test?

Why is there a difference in sensitivity among the different parts of the skin?

What is the functional significance of this difference in skin sensitivity?

DEMONSTRATING ADAPTION OF TOUCH RECEPTORS:

BODY PART TRIAL 1 (SEC) TRIAL 2 (SEC) TRIAL 3 (SEC) AVERAGE (SEC)
Palm
Back of Hand
Arm
Forearm
Questions:
Which part of the body takes longer to adapt?

Which part of the body adapts quickly?

Which type of receptor is responsible for perception of the coin?

Why does sensation disappear after some time?

What is the significance of adaptation?

Why does adaptation differ in different parts of the body?

THERMORECEPTION:
TRIAL FIRST APPLICATION SECOND APPLICATION RATING (1-10)
1 Hot water Cold water
2 Hot water Hot water
3 Cold water Cold water
4 Cold water Hot water
Questions:
What order results in the perception of the lowest temperature?

What order results in the perception of highest temperature?

What does this tell you about thermoreceptors?

How can you explain or account for these results?

FINGERPRINTING:
LEFT HAND RIGHT HAND
FINGERS TYPE OF FINGERPRINT FINGERS TYPE OF FINGERPRINT
Thumb Thumb
Pointer Pointer
Middle Middle
Ring Ring
Small Small

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS:

1. Ultraviolet ray in sunlight stimulate the production of melanin. Why does exposure to the sun result in
darker skin, even though there is no increase in the number of melanocytes?

People tan because sunlight causes the skin to produce more melanin and darken. The tan fades when
new cells move to the surface and the tanned cells are sloughed off. The outer layer of the skin has cells
that contain the pigment melanin. Melanin protects skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays.

2. Which layer of the skin has no direct blood supply? How does this layer receive nutrients?
In the epidermis. This is the outermost layer of the skin relies on the underlying dermis, for the supply of
nutrients and disposal of waste products. This occurs via a process of diffusion through the dermo-
epidermal junction, which lies just below the stratum germinativum of the epidermis

3. Ojhea, the mother of a 13-month-old infant, brings her child to the clinic because his skin has turned
orange. Why does the pediatrician inquire about the child's diet?

It’s because of the carotene. Carotene can accumulate in the stratum corneum and the
hypodermic, giving the skin an orange cast. Awareness of diet is particularly important in very
young children who tend to go on "food jags," refusing all but one food, to determine whether
they "liked" foods are high in carotene.

4. Nurse Jade told Doctor DJ that a patient is cyanotic. What is cyanosis? What does its presence
indicate?
Cyanosis is when the skin or mucous membranes have a blue color instead of their normal pink.
This indicates that there is not enough oxygen getting to that area due to either poor circulation
or too little oxygen in the blood.

Pictures: