Epithelial Membranes

• Epithelial membranes are the simplest organs in the body, constructed

of only epithelium and a little bit of connective tissue.

• mucous membranes - external surfaces (digestive, respiratory,

reproductive)
• serous membranes – line body cavities that don’t open to the
environment (e.g. around lung)
• cutaneous membranes - skin (epidermis and dermis)
• synovial membranes – enclose joints, reduce friction at joint surfaces
 Epithelial
Membranes
 Chapter 6
The Integumentary System

Fig. 5.2 OpenStax

OR See Fig 6.1 McKinley
 Introduction
• The Integument is an
organ system
• consists of:
– Skin and its
accessory structures
(hair, nails and
glands)
– Blood vessels
– Muscles
– nerves
 Introduction
• the skin contributes to:
– Protection
– Prevention of water loss and gain
– Metabolic regulation
– Secretion and absorption
– Immune function
– Temperature regulation
– Sensory reception
 Structures of the Skin
• skin has 3 major
layers:
– Epidermis –
consists of epithelial
tissue
– Dermis – consists
of connective tissue
(CT)
– The subcutaneous
(subQ) layer is
located underneath
the dermis

Fig. 5.2 OpenStax

OR See Fig 6.1 McKinley
 The Epidermis
• The epidermis is
composed of keratinized Dead keratinocytes

stratified squamous
Sweat gland duct
epithelium
– Keratinocytes – produce
keratin – a tough fibrous
Living keratinocyte

Melanocyte
protein that provides Epidermal dendritic cell

protection Basement membrane

– Melanocytes - produce Tactile cell

Sensory nerve ending

the pigment melanin that

protects against damage
by UV radiation

Fig 6.2 McKinley

 The Epidermis
• Skin Pigments
– Nevi (“birthmarks” or moles) are harmless
overgrowth of melanocytes
– Malignant melanoma is a cancer of
melanocytes

Vesicle filled Epidermis

with melanin

Melanin pigment
in keratinocyte Stratum basale with
melanin pigment
Melanin pigment
Melanocyte Dermis

LM 124x
Stratum basale

(a) (b) Fig 6.4 McKinley

 The Epidermis
• Tactile (Merkel) cells –
touch receptor cells Dead keratinocytes

– Few in number
– In stratum basale Sweat gland duct

– When compressed, send

signals to nerve endings Living keratinocyte

• Dendrite cells – used in Melanocyte

Epidermal dendritic cell
immunity Basement membrane
Tactile cell
Sensory nerve ending

Fig 6.2 McKinley

 The Epidermis
• 4-5 layers
1) The stratum basale is
the deepest layer.
Continuous cell division Stratum corneum

occurs here and Stratum lucidum

produces all the other Stratum granulosum

layers Stratum spinosum

2) The stratum spinosum – Stratum basale

a layer of 8-10
Dermis
keratinocytes, and some
dendritic cells
(b)
3) The non-dividing cells of
the stratum granulosum
are filled with granules of
keratin Fig 6.2 McKinley
 The Epidermis
4) The stratum lucidum is only present in
thick skin (finger tips, palms, soles)

5) The stratum corneum is always

outermost, composed of approx. 20 layers
of flat cell-remnants
- they are continuously shed and replaced
by cells from deeper strata
 The Dermis
• Two regions:
– The papillary region
consists of areolar CT
with capillaries, tactile
receptors, free nerve
endings
– The reticular region
Papillary layer

consists of dense
Reticular layer

irregular CT, with

adipose cells, hair
follicles, nerves, glands

Fig 6.6 McKinley

 Innervation and blood supply of
the Dermis
• Dermis has extensive nerve fibers
– Sensory nerve fibers – tactile corpuscles
• Detect pressure, vibration, and cold
– Motor nerve fibers
• Control blood flow and gland secretions

• Dermal blood vessels

– Supply nutrients to epidermis and dermis
– Play an important role in body temperature and
blood pressure regulation
 The Subcutaneous Layer
• The subcutaneous layer attaches the skin
to underlying tissues and organs.
– Acts as energy reservoir
– Provides thermal insulation
– Drugs are often injected here

Subcutaneous layer Fig 6.6 McKinley

 Integument
Layers
and the
Subcutaneous
Layer
(Table 6.1)
 Hair
• Hair is associated with the
word “pili”.
– It is composed of dead,
keratinized epidermal cells
• Hair helps with touch
sensations and protects the
body against the harmful
effects of the sun and
against heat loss
Fig. 5.11 OpenStax
OR see Fig 6.9 McKinley
 Hair
• The parts of a hair
include:
– The shaft - above
the skin surface

– A root – part that

is deep to the skin
surface

– The bulb –
epithelial cells
where the hair Fig. 5.11 OpenStax
OR see Fig 6.9 McKinley

originates
 Nails
• Nails are composed of
hard, keratinized
epidermal cells located
over the dorsal
surfaces of the ends of
fingers and toes.
– Protect the distal
tips of the digits
– Assist in grasping
objects
 Skin Glands
• Sebaceous (oil) glands are connected
to hair follicles.
– They secrete an oily substance
called
sebum which:
- prevents dehydration of hair and
skin
- inhibits growth of certain bacteria

– Oil glands are stimulated by

androgens

Fig. 5.11 OpenStax

OR see Fig 6.9 McKinley
 Skin Glands
• Merocrine
(Eccrine) sweat
glands secrete a
watery solution Sweat
pore

that helps to cool Sweat

gland duct

the body and Hair follicle

eliminates small Sebaceous

gland
Merocrine
amounts of waste sweat gland

LM 70x
Arrector pili
muscle
Apocrine
sweat gland

Fig 6.10 McKinley

 Skin Glands
• Apocrine sweat
glands are located
mainly in the skin of
the axilla, groin,
areolae, and bearded Sweat
pore
Sweat
facial regions of adult gland duct

males Hair follicle

Sebaceous
- Released during gland
Merocrine
sweat gland

LM 70x
sexual activities Arrector pili
muscle
Apocrine
sweat gland