HEALTH SCIENCE (HSCI)
LECTURE
THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM (SKIN)
▪ Protection
o Mechanical damage (bumps)
o Chemical damage (acids and bases)
o Bacterial damage (intact & acid pH)
o Ultraviolet radiation (sunlight)
o Thermal damage (heat or cold)
o Desiccation (drying out)
• Uppermost layer of skin is full of Keratin & is
cornified.
• Keratin is fibrous protein, makes the
epidermis a tough protective layer and
makes up hair and nails.
▪ The cutaneous sensory receptors (part of NS)
o Touch, pressure, temperature, pain receptors)
▪ Synthesizes Vitamin D
o Modified cholesterol molecules called provitamin
D3 in skin converted to Vit. D3 by sunlight)
▪ Aids in body heat loss or heat retention (controlled by
NS)
o Heat Loss – by activating sweat glands and by
allowing blood to flush into skin capillaries so
that heat can escape from the skin surface.
o Heat Retention – by allowing blood to bypass the
skin capillaries temporarily, allowing internal
body temperature to stay high.
▪ Aids in excretion od urea, salts, and water
o Sweat contains small amount of nitrogenous
wastes and play a minor role in excretion
o Found in perspiration produced by sweat glands
▪ Blood reservoir
o The extensive vascular supply of the dermis
allows the sin to act as a blood reservoir.
Body Membranes
➢ cover surfaces, line body cavities and form protective
sheets around organs
➢ 2 major groups:
▪ Epithelial membranes
o Cutaneous Membrane
• Skin, Integument
o Mucous Membrane
• line tubular structures and all body
cavities that open to the exterior.
• Composed of epithelium resting on
loose connective tissue.
• Many secrete mucus, not all do.
o Serous Membrane
• Moist membranes found in closed
ventral body cavity.
• A layer of simple squamous epithelium
resting on a thin layer of areolar
connective tissue.
• Line body cavities that are closed to the
exterior (except dorsal body cavity and
joint body cavity).
• Ex. Peritoneum – digestive, Pleura –
lungs, Pericardium – heart
• Occurs in pairs:
A. Parietal Layer – lines the wall of the
cavity.
B. Visceral Layer – covers the outside of
the organs in the cavity.
▪ Connective tissue membranes
o Synovial Membrane
• Made up of soft areolar connective
tissue.
• Contain no epithelial cells at all.
• Line the fibrous capsules surrounding
joints.
1ST SEMESTER
LESSON 3
• Provides smooth surface and secrete lubrication
fluid.
Integumentary System
➢ Largest system of the body
➢ 16% of the body weight
➢ 1.5 to 2 m2 in area
➢ Made up of 2 parts:
▪ Cutaneous Membrane
o Skin, Integument
▪ Appendages/Derivative Structures of the Skin
o Hair, hair follicles, nails & cutaneous glands
Parts of the Integumentary System
Cutaneous membrane (Skin)
➢ Outer Epidermis:
▪ Stratified squamous epithelium
o Capable of keratinizing or becoming hard &
tough
▪ Avascular
o No blood supply of its own
➢ Inner Dermis:
▪ Dense connective tissues
▪ Highly vascularized
Hypodermis (subcutaneous tissue)
➢ Also known as Superficial fascia
➢ Adipose tissue (fat)
➢ Beneath the dermis, not part of the skin, but it anchors
the skin to underlying organs
➢ The site for fat storage, serves as shock absorber &
insulates deeper tissues from extreme temp change
outside the body.
➢ Responsible for the curves of the body
Layers of the Epidermis:
➢ Made up of (5) five layers or strata (bed sheets)
➢ From the free surface to the basal lamina: (CLGSB)
▪ Stratum Corneum
o The “horny layer”
o An abrupt transition occurs between the
nucleated cells of the stratum granulosum
and the flattened unnucleated cells of
stratum corneum.
o The most superficial layer of the epidermis,
exposed to the outside environment
o 15 – 30 layers thick of keratinized, water-
resistant cells.
o About ¾ of the epidermal thickness
o The cells in this layer can still be anchored to
each other by desmosomes.
o The entire layer is replaced during a period
of about 2-4 weeks.
o Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell
death.
▪ Stratum Lucidum
o The “clear layer”
 o It is smooth, translucent layer found only in
the hairless and thick skin of the palms,
soles, and digits.
o The keratinocytes in this layer are dead and
flattened, densely packed with keratin and
eleidin, a clear protein rich in lipids, derived
from keratohyalin, which gives these cells
their transparent appearance and provides a
barrier to water.
▪ Stratum Granulosum
Epidermal Dendritic Cell
o The “grainy layer”
o 4-6 layers of keratinocytes, generate large ➢ Langerhans cell
amounts of keratin, and keratohyalin, seen ➢ Present in all layers of the epidermis
as dense granules within the cells. (These 2 ➢ Bacterial or viral invasion
proteins give the layer its grainy appearance)
o These cells flatten their nuclei and organelles
begin to disintegrate, and they accumulate
two types of granules. (Keratohyalin granules
and lamellar granules)
▪ Stratum Spinosum
o The “spiny layer”
o 8-10 layers of keratinocytes bound by
desmosomes
o The synthesis of keratin begins and they
release a water-repelling glycolipid that
makes the skin relatively waterproof
o Cells shrink until the cytoskeletons stick out
o Both the protruding desmosomes and Merkel Cells
cytoskeletons make this layer spiny
o Contain Langerhans cells, which are ➢ Also known as Merkel-Ranvier cells
dendritic cells active in immune response. ➢ Found in stratum Basale
▪ Stratum Germinativum/Stratum Basale ➢ Light touch receptors
o the deepest layer of the epidermis, closest to
the dermis
o made up of a single layer of basal cells (stem
cells) of Keratinocytes, which comprise 95%
of the cells in the epidermis.
o The basal cells are the most nourished
epidermal cells
o These cells are constantly dividing & millions
of new cells are produced daily (hence
germinativum)
o As daughter cells are produced the existing
cells are pushed upward, until they become
DERMIS
part of the top most epidermal layer
o Other cells present are Melanocytes and the ➢ The core of the integumentary system
Merkel cells ➢ 2nd major skin region, strong and flexible connective
tissue
Keratinization
➢ “hide” (treated dermis of animals) ex. Bags and shoes
➢ The formation of a layer of dead, protective cells filled ➢ Varies in thickness just like the epidermis
with keratin ➢ Thick on the palms of the hands & soles of feet, but
➢ Occurs on all exposed surfaces, skin nails, and hair this on the eyelids
except eyes ➢ Contains blood vessels, lymph vessels, hair follicles,
sweat glands, ad sebaceous glands.
Skin Life Cycle ➢ Has 2 major regions:
▪ Papillary layer
➢ It takes 15-30 days for a cell to move from stratum o Upper region; uneven layer
germinativum to stratum corneum o Has dermal papillae on the surface which
indent the epidermis above
OTHER CELLS IN THE EPIDERMIS
o Some dermal papillae have pain receptors
Melanocytes (free from nerve endings) and touch
receptors (Meissner Corpuscles)
➢ Spiderly shaped cells found shiftily in your Stratum o On the palmar surface of the hands and feet
Basale the layer forms ridges, in patterns that are
➢ Produce the pigment Melanin, ranges from yellow to unique to each individual and which do not
brown to black change over time. Even identical twins (who
➢ Melanin is contained in granules, melanosomes, share their DNA) do not have identical
which are taken up by Keratinocytes fingerprints.
➢ Inside Keratinocytes, melanin forms a pigment ▪ Reticular layer
umbrella over the “sunny” side of their nuclei & o Deepest skin layer
shielding their DNA. o Contains irregularly arranged connective
tissue fibers as well as blood vessels,
cutaneous glands and deep pressure
receptors called Pacinian corpuscles.
o Phagocytes – found throughout the dermis
prevent bacterial invasion
 o Collagen Fibers – are responsible for the
toughness of the dermis; attract & bind
water, thus keep skin hydrated
o Elastic Fibers – give the skin its elasticity
➢ As the person ages, collages & elastic fibers
decrease, and the hypodermis loses fat. The skin
loses its elasticity and begins to sag & wrinkle
Appendages of the Skin
➢ Include cutaneous glands, hair & hair follicles, and
nails.
➢ Located in the dermis and plays a role in maintaining
homeostasis
➢ Cutaneous Glands
▪ 2 groups: sebaceous glands and sweat glands
▪ They are all exocrine glands that release their
secretions to the skin surface vis ducts
▪ They are formed by cells of the stratum Basale
➢ Sebaceous (Oil) Glands
▪ Found all over the skin except on palms of hands
& soles of feet
▪ Their ducts empty into a hair follicle
▪ Produce Sebum, a mixture of oily subs and
fragmented cells. It serves as lubricant. It also
contains chemicals that kill bacteria.
▪ Became very active during puberty under the
influence of androgens
▪ Thus, the skin tends to be oilier during this period
of life
➢ Homeostatic Imbalance (Sebaceous Glands)
▪ A whitehead appears on the skin if a sebaceous
gland’s duct is blocked by a sebum
▪ A blackhead is formed if the whitehead oxidizes,
dries and darkens.
▪ Acne is an active infection of the sebaceous
glands accompanied by pimples on the skin. It
can be extremely severe, leading to permanent
scarring. (Propionibacterium Acnes)
▪ Seborrhea (fast-flowing sebum), also known as
“cradle cap” in infants. It is caused by overly
overactivity of the sebaceous glands. It begins on
the scalp as pink, raised lesions that form a
yellow to brown crust that sloughs off oily scales.
➢ Sweat Glands
▪ Also called Sudoriferous glands
▪ Widely distributed in the skin except the nipples
▪ Up to 3 million per person
▪ 2 types: eccrine and apocrine
➢ Eccrine Glands (Merocrine Glands)
▪ More numerous and found all over the body.
▪ Produce sweat, a clear secretion made up of
water, salts, Vit C, traces of metabolic wastes
and lactic acid.
o It is Acidic (pH 4-6) that inhibits growth of
certain bacteria
▪ Sweat reaches the skin surface via a duct that
opens a funnel-shaped pore
➢ Apocrine Glands
▪ Confined to the axillary (armpit) and genital areas
▪ Larger than eccrine glands
▪ Their ducts empty into hair follicles
▪ Their secretion contains fatty acids and proteins,
plus the substances present in eccrine secretion.
It may have milky or yellowish color and odorless:
but when bacteria use its proteins and fats, it
takes a musky, unpleasant odor.
▪ Begin to function during puberty under the
influence of androgens (male sex hormones)
➢ Hair and Hair Follicles
▪ The hair:
o Protects and insulates
o Known as the “crowning glory”
o Guards’ openings against particles and
insects
o Is sensitive to very light touch (peritracheal
receptors)
o Short and stiff in the eyebrows; long and
flexible on the head; and nearly invisible
everywhere else.
o Are distributed all over our entire skin
surface except our palms, lips, soles,
portions of external genitalia.
o 2 parts of the hair:
• Hair Shaft, protects from the surface of the scalp
or skin; keratinized dead cells.
• Hair Root, the part beneath the skin
Kinky – shaft is flat and ribbon like in cross
section
Oval – the hair is silky and wavy
Straight - perfectly round and dense to be
course
PARTS OF THE HAIR SHAFT
➢ Medulla
▪ Central core with large cells & air spaces
▪ Only part of the hair that contains soft keratin and
is absent in fine hair
➢ Cortex
▪ Bulky layer composed of several layers of
flattened cells
➢ Cuticle
▪ Outermost layer is formed by a single layer of
cells that overlap one another like shingles on a
roof
▪ Heavily keratinized. It provides strength to the
hair
Hair Follicle
➢ The tubular epithelial sheath that surrounds the
bottom part of the hair shaft and encloses the hair root
➢ Its inner epithelial root sheath forms the hair
➢ The outer root sheath is dermal connective tissue
Hair Bulb (bottom)
➢ Hair Matrix – growth zone containing stratum Basale
epithelial cells
➢ Hair papilla/papillae – nipplelike; provides the blood
supply to the matrix
➢ Melanocytes – provides melanin; hair color
Erector pili
➢ Voluntary smooth muscle; causes hairs to stand up
➢ Produces “goose bumps”
Nail
➢ Is a scale like modification of the epidermis that forms
a clear protective covering on the dorsal surface of
the distal part of the finger or toe which correspond to
the hooves or claws of other animals are useful as
tools to pick up small objects or scratch an itch
➢ Contain hard keratin, appear pink because of the rich
bed of capillaries
➢ Outer parts:
▪ Each has free edge where dirt and debris tend to
accumulate (hyponychium) or below the nail,
informally called “the quick”
▪ The nail body (visible attached portion)
▪ Root (embedded in the akin)
▪ Nail folds (skin folds at the borders of the nail;
e.g., literal nail fold) proximal and lateral nail
borders of a nail are overlapped by skin folds.
The proximal nail fold projects onto the nail body
as the cuticle or eponychium
▪ Lunula – region that lies over the thick nail matrix
appears as white crescent, little moon.
▪ Cuticle (the edge of the thick proximal nail fold)
o Yellow nails – respiratory or thyroid gland
disorder
o Thickened yellow nails – fungus infection
o Outward concavity of the nail – iron
deficiency
 o Horizontal lines/booze lines – malnutrition ▪ Affects all races equally, it is more noticeable in
dark skinned people.
PARTS UNDER THE NAIL BODY ➢ Psoriasis
▪ Chronic skin condition that is marked by red and
➢ Nail Bed – extension of stratum Basale of the
scaly patches of skin. Show most often on scalp,
epidermis; beneath the nail body
elbows, knees, and lower back.
➢ Nail matrix – thickened proximal area under the
▪ It is believed to be an autoimmune disorder
Lunula.
▪ It is not contagious
▪ Responsible for nail growth; nail cells are
➢ Tinea pedis or Athlete’s foot
produces by the matrix; they become heavily
▪ Fungal infection which is itchy, red, peeling
keratinized and die.
condition between the toes.
▪ When the oxygen supply in the blood is low, the
➢ Boils and Carbuncles
nail beds become cyanotic.
▪ Bacterial infection; inflammation of hair follicles &
SKIN COLOR (3 pigments contribute to skin color) sebaceous glands; typically caused by
Staphylococcus aureus.
A. Amount of Melanin in the epidermis
➢ A polymer made of tyrosine amino acids; colors Burns
range from reddish yellow to brownish blacks.
➢ Tissue damage & cell death by intense heat,
➢ 2 types:
electricity, ultraviolet, radiation or chemicals (acids)
▪ Eumelanin – a brown-black, found in areola,
➢ Classification According to Severity:
and skin, and the hair colors gray, black,
▪ First Degree – only the epidermis is damaged;
blond, and brown more abundant in people
generally, heals in 2-3 days; e.g., Sunburn
with dark skin
▪ Second Degree – epidermis and upper regions of
▪ Pheomelanin – pink to red hue; found in
dermis are damaged. Symptoms mimic first
large quantities in red hair, the lips, nipples,
degree burns, but blisters also appear; regrowth
glans of the penis, and vagina
of the epithelium can occur; no permanent scars
B. The amount of Carotene deposited in the stratum
result if there is no infection.
corneum and subcutaneous tissue. (Carotene is an
▪ Third Degree – entire thickness of the skin is
orange-yellow pigment present in carrots & other
damaged. Regeneration is not possible; skin
orange, deep yellow, or leafy green vegetables)
grafting must be done to cover the exposed
eating large amounts of carotene-rich foods tends the
tissues.
skin to take on a yellow-orange color.
C. The amount of oxygen-rich hemoglobin. (Pigment in SKIN CANCER
red blood cells) in the dermal vessels
▪ In light-skinned people, who have less melanin, Three Major Types of Skin Cancer:
the crimson color of oxygen-rich hemoglobin in
the dermal blood supply gives their skin a rosy Basal Cell Carcinoma
glow
➢ Least malignant and most common
Homeostatic Imbalance (skin color) ➢ Stratum Basale cells are altered, they cannot form
keratin
➢ Cyanosis ➢ Lesions occur most often on sun-exposed areas of
▪ A condition when Hb is poorly oxygenated, both the face
the blood and the skin appear blue ➢ Slow growing and do not often metastasize
▪ This is common during heart failure, and severe ➢ Can be cured by surgical excision in 99% of the cases
breathing disorders
▪ In black people, the skin does not appear Squamous Cell Carcinoma
cyanotic but cyanosis is apparent in the mucous
➢ Arises from keratinocytes of stratum spinosum
membranes and nail beds
➢ Also believed to be sun-induced
➢ Hematomas
➢ Occurs most often on scalp, ears, and lower lip
▪ Seen as bruises or black-and-blue marks, seen in
➢ Grows rapidly and metastasizes to adjacent lymph
sites where blood has escaped from circulation
nodes if not removed
and has clotted in the tissue spaces
➢ Prognosis is good id treated by radiation therapy or
▪ An unusual tendency to bruising may signify Vit.
removed surgically
C deficiency or hemophilia (bleeder’s disease)
Malignant Melanoma
Emotions also influence skin color and a change in skin
color may signify certain disorders: ➢ Cancer of melanocytes
➢ It accounts for only about 2-3% of skin cancers but
➢ Redness or Erythema
most dangerous type because it is highly metastatic
▪ May indicate embarrassment, hypertension,
and resistant to chemotherapy
inflammation, or allergy
➢ Most cases appear spontaneously but some develop
➢ Pallor or Blanching
from pigmented moles
▪ Fear, anger, may signify anemia, low blood
➢ The chance of survival is about 50%
pressure or impaired blood flow into the area
➢ Jaundice or a Yellow Cast
▪ Usually signifies a liver disorder

Other Homeostatic Imbalances of Skin:

➢ Albinism
▪ Is a genetic disorder that affects completely or
partially the color of the skin, hair, an eyes
▪ Due to inability to produce melanin
➢ Vitiligo
▪ Loss of pigment in certain areas of the skin due
to autoimmune destruction of melanocytes
▪ Loss of color in patches