Chapter 5

Integumentary
System

Shaft of a hair protruding through the skin

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Functions of the Integumentary System
Consists of the skin, hair, glands, and nails
Functions
1. Protection
Against abrasion and UV light
Prevents entry of microorganisms
Prevents dehydration
2. Sensation
Sensory receptors that can detect heat, cold, touch,
pressure, and pain
3. Temperature regulation by controlling
Blood flow through the skin
Sweat gland activity
4. Vitamin D production
5. Excretion of small amounts of waste products
 Skin
SA 1.2-2.2 m2 and weighs 4-5 kg (9-11 lbs)
Consists of three major regions
Epidermis: outermost region (superficial)
Resists abrasion
Reduces water loss
Dermis: middle region (bulk of skin)
Responsible for most of the structural strength of the skin
Leather is produced from the dermis of animals
Subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis): deepest region
Not really part of the skin
Connects the skin to underlying muscle or bone
Fig. 5.1
Tab. 5.1
 Epidermis
Composed of keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium, consisting of four
distinct cell types and four or five layers
Cell types include keratinocytes,
melanocytes, Merkel cells, and
Langerhans cells
Outer portion of the skin is exposed to the
external environment and functions in
protection
 Cells of the Epidermis
Keratinocytes
Most abundant cell type
Produce the fibrous protein keratin
Gives skin its protective properties
Melanocytes
Produce the brown pigment melanin
Found in the deepest layers of the epidermis
Langerhans cells
Epidermal macrophages
Help activate the immune system
Merkel cells
Touch receptors in association with sensory nerve endings
 Layers of the Epidermis
Stratum Basale (Basal Layer)
Deepest epidermal layer firmly attached to the
dermis
Structural strength is provided by desmosomes and
hemidesmosomes
Consists of a single row of the youngest
keratinocytes
Cells undergo mitotic divisions ~every 19 days
10-25% are melanocytes
 Layers of the Epidermis
Stratum Spinosum
Melanin granules and Langerhans cells are abundant in
this layer
Melanin is taken up by the keratinocytes and accumulates on
the sunny side to protect the nucleus from UV damage
Stratum Granulosum
Drastic changes in keratinocyte appearance occurs
Keratohyaline and lamellated bodies (waterproofing)
accumulate in the cells of this layer
Above this layer the epithelial cells die because they are
too far from the dermis
 Layers of the Epidermis
Stratum Lucidum
Thin, transparent band superficial to the Stratum
Granulosum
Consists of a few rows of flat, dead keratinocytes
Present only in thick skin
Stratum Corneum
Outermost layer of keratinized cells
Accounts for three quarters of the epidermal thickness
20-30 cell layers thick, all dead.
Millions rub off everyday. Totally new every 25-45 days.
Functions include:
Waterproofing
Protection from abrasion and penetration
Rendering the body relatively insensitive to biological, chemical,
and physical assaults
Fig. 5.2b
Fig. 5.3
 Thick and Thin Skin
Thick skin has all five epithelial strata
Thin skin contains fewer cell layers per
stratum
Stratum lucidum is usually absent
Hair is found only in thin skin
 Skin Color
Melanocytes produce melanin inside
melanosomes and then transfer the melanin to
keratinocytes
The size and distribution of melanosomes determine
skin color
Melanin production is determined genetically but can
be influenced by UV light (tanning) and hormones
Increased blood flow produces a red skin color
(Erythema), whereas a decreased flow causes
pale skin
Decreased oxygen content in the blood results in a
bluish color called cyanosis
Carotene, an ingested plant pigment, can cause
the skin to appear yellowish
Fig. 5.4
 Dermis
Second major skin region containing
strong, flexible connective tissue
Cell types include fibroblasts, a few
adipose cells and macrophages
Composed of two layers: papillary and
reticular
 Layers of the Dermis
Papillary layer
Areolar connective tissue with collagen and elastic
fibers
Its superior surface contains peg-like projections
called dermal papillae
Genetically determined
Responsible for fingerprints and footprints (films of sweat)
Contains blood vessels that supply the overlying
epidermis
With nutrients
Remove waste products
Aid in regulating body temperature
 Layers of the Dermis
Reticular layer
Dense irregular connective tissue
Accounts for approximately 80% of the
thickness of the skin
Collagen fibers in this layer add strength and
resiliency to the skin
Elastin fibers provide stretch-recoil properties
Striae (stretch marks) are caused when skin
is overstretched, the dermis ruptures and
leaves visible lines
 Layers of the Dermis
Reticular layer
Elastin and collagen
fibers are oriented
more in one direction
than in others and
produce cleavage, or
tension, lines

Fig. 5.5
 Subcutaneous Tissue
Deep to the skin
Composed of adipose and areolar
connective tissue
Not really part of the skin
Mostly adipose tissue
Stores fat and connects the skin to the
underlying structures (mainly muscles)
Shock absorber and insulator
Increases greatly as you gain weight
 Hair
Lanugo (fetal hair) is replaced near the time of birth by
terminal hairs (scalp, eyelids, and eyebrows) and vellus
hairs
At puberty, vellus hairs can be replaced with terminal hairs
Hairs are columns of dead, keratinized epithelial cells
Each hair consist of
A shaft above the skin
A root below the skin
A hair bulb the site of hair formation
Hairs have a growth stage and a resting stage
Contraction of the arrector pili, which are smooth muscles,
causes hair to stand on end and produces goose flesh
Fig. 5.6
 Sebaceous Glands
Simple or compound alveolar glands
found all over the body except on the
palms and soles
Soften skin when stimulated by hormones
Secrete an oily secretion called sebum
Acne is an active inflammation of the
sebaceous glands.
 Sweat Glands
Different types prevent overheating of the body
Secrete cerumen and milk
Up to 3 million/person
Merocrine sweat glands produce sweat, which cools the
body: most numerous in the palms and soles of the feet
Apocrine sweat glands: Found in axillary and genital
areas. Ducts empty into hair follicles. Produce an organic
secretion that can be broken down by bacteria to cause
body odor
Ceruminous glands: modified merocrine glands in external
ear canal that secrete cerumen (ear wax)
Mammary glands: specialized sweat glands that secrete
milk
Fig. 5.7
 Nails
The nail is Stratum Corneum containing
hard keratin
The nail root is covered by skin
The nail body is the visible part of the nail
Nearly all of the nail is formed by the nail
matrix, but the nail bed contributes
The lunula is the part of the nail matrix
visible through the nail body
Fig. 5.8
 Integumentary System Functions
Protection Sensation
Skin Skin contains sensory
Protects against abrasion and receptors for
UV light heat
Prevents the entry of cold
microorganisms
touch
Helps regulate body
pressure
temperature
pain
Prevents water loss
Hair
Protects against abrasion and
UV light
Acts as a heat insulator
Nails protect the ends of the
digits
 Integumentary System Functions
Temperature
Regulation
Skin
Controls heat loss from the
body by dilation and
constriction of blood
vessels
Sweat glands
Produce sweat, which
evaporates and lowers
body temperature
Vitamin D Production
UV light stimulates the
production of a precursor
molecule in the skin that is
modified by the liver and
kidneys into vitamin D
Vitamin D increases calcium
uptake in the intestines
Excretion
Skin glands remove small
amounts of waste products
but are not important in
excretion
Fig. 5.9
 Basal Cell Carcinoma
Least malignant and most common skin cancer
Stratum Basale cells proliferate and invade the dermis
and hypodermis
Slow growing and do not often metastasize
Can be cured by surgical excision in 99% of the cases
 Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Arises from keratinocytes of Stratum Spinosum
Arise most often on scalp, ears, and lower lip
Grows rapidly and metastasizes if not removed
Prognosis is good if treated by radiation therapy or
removed surgically
 Melanoma
Cancer of melanocytes is the most dangerous type of
skin cancer because it is:
Likely to metastasize
Resistant to chemotherapy
 Melanoma
Melanomas have the following characteristics
(ABCD rule)
A: Asymmetry; the two sides of the pigmented area do
not match
B: Border is irregular and exhibits indentations
C: Color (pigmented area) is black, brown, tan, and
sometimes red or blue
D: Diameter is larger than 6 mm (size of a pencil eraser)
Treated by wide surgical excision accompanied by
immunotherapy
Chance of survival is poor if the lesion is over 4
mm thick
 Burns
First-degree: only the epidermis is damaged
Symptoms include localized redness, swelling, and
pain
Second-degree: epidermis and upper regions of
dermis are damaged
Symptoms mimic first degree burns, but blisters also
appear
Third-degree: entire thickness of the skin is
damaged
Burned area appears gray-white, cherry red, or
black; there is no initial edema or pain (since nerve
endings are destroyed)
 Rule of Nines
Estimates the severity
of burns
Divides body into
areas that are ~ 9%, or
multiples of 9%, of the
total body area
Younger patients are
different
Burns considered
critical if:
Over 25% of the body
has second-degree
burns
Over 10% of the body
has third-degree burns
There are third-degree
burns on face, hands, or
feet
Page 115
 Effects of Aging on the
Integumentary System
Epidermal replacement of cells slows and skin
becomes thinner
Decreased elasticity and loss of subcutaneous
tissue leads to wrinkles
Subcutaneous fat layer diminishes, leading to
intolerance of cold
Skin becomes dry and itchy
Sweat and sebaceous glands are less active,
and the number of melanocytes decreases
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