Chapter 6: Integumentary

System

6.1 Introduction

Why is skin considered to be an organ?

What makes up the integumentary

system?

Integumentary System
Skin (cutaneous membrane)
Skin derivatives

Sweat glands
Oil glands
Hair
Nails

6.2 Skin and its Tissues

Skin is also know as a cutaneous membrane

How is the skin vital in maintaining
homeostasis?
Skin has 2 layers

Epidermis: most superficial; thin; stratified

squamous epithelial tissue; keratinized
Dermis: deep to epidermis; thicker; loose and
dense connective tissue; contains appendages
(hair, glands, blood vessels, nerves, etc)

Subcutaneous layer or hypodermis lies deep

to dermis; consists mostly of loose adipose
connective tissue

Skin Structure

Figure 4.3

A Closer look at the Epidermis

Epidermis composed of keratinized

stratified squamous epithelium.

Structure: Principle Cell types and layers

Keratinocytes makes up 90%, arranged in 4 to 5

layers, produce:

Melanocytes 8%, produces pigment melanin, have

long slender projections that transfer melanin to
keratinocytes

Keratin: tough, fibrous, waterproof protein

Lamellar granules: repel water

Melanin: brown/black pigment, absorbs UV light

Langerhans cells aid in immune response; easily

damaged by UV light
Merkel cells contact sensory neuron, aid in sensation

Epidermal Cell layers (deepest to most superficial)

Stratum basale (deepest or base layer) attached to

basement membrane, contains most of the melanocytes,
has cuboidal or columnar cells, mitosis.
Stratum spinosum (spiny layer) 8-10 layers of
irregular shaped keratinocytes, become flattened
Stratum granulosum (granular layer) 3 - 5 layers of
flat keratinocytes, undergoing cell death
Stratum lucidum (clear layer) dead cells w/ lots of
keratin; only in thick skin of finger tips, palms and feet
Stratum corneum (most superficial, horny layer) 25
to 30 layers of flattened dead cells containing keratin,
continuously shed and replaced by cells from deeper
strata

What is Keratinization?

Melanin
Pigment (melanin) produced by
melanocytes
Melanocytes are mostly in the stratum
basale
Color is yellow to brown to black
Amount of melanin produced depends
upon genetics and exposure to sunlight

Normal Skin Color

Determinants

Melanin
Yellow, brown, or black
pigments
Carotene
Orange-yellow pigment
from some vegetables
Hemoglobin
Red coloring from blood
cells in dermal capillaries
Oxygen content determines
the extent of red coloring

Functions of epidermis

Protection (damage, UV rays, etc)

Growth / Repair (regeneration)
Immune response
Sensation
Water-repellent & sealant

Epidermal growth and repair

Regeneration time for skin is about 35 days

Shortened regeneration time results in increased
thickness of stratum corneum making a callus (thick
skin)

A Closer look at the Dermis

Dermis: deep to the epidermis

Structure of Dermis

Much thicker than epidermis has 2 portions:

Papillary Dermis (Superficial part of dermis): Loose
areolar connective tissue

Dermal Papillae: finger-like projections indenting

epidermis; increase surface area
Contain capillaries
Contain corpuscles of touch (Meissner corpuscles)

Reticular Dermis (Deep part of dermis): dense

connective tissue

Contains hair follicles, nerves, blood vessels, sebaceous

(oil) glands, & sudoriferous (sweat) glands

Functions of the Dermis

Sensitivity
Strength / support
Stretchable / elasticity
Flexibility

Dermal growth & repair

Dermis does not continually shed and regenerate like

epidermis
If this layer is damaged, the fibroblasts form a dense
mass of connective fibers forming a scar
Extreme stretching may produce small tears causing
striae or stretch marks

Skin Structure

Subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis) is

deep to dermis

Not part of the skin

Anchors skin to underlying organs
Composed mostly of adipose tissue

Glands

Sebaceous (oil) glands

Secretes oil (sebum), keeps hair & skin soft/pliable,
prevents water loss from skin
Located in dermis, except for palms & soles
Aids in formation of pimples & black heads
2 types of Sudoriferous (sweat) glands
Eccrine glands .
Apocrine glands

Appendages of the Skin

Sebaceous glands

Produce oil
Lubricant for skin
Prevents brittle hair
Kills bacteria

Most have ducts that empty into hair

follicles; others open directly onto skin
surface
Glands are activated at puberty

Appendages of the Skin

Figure 4.6a

Appendages of the Skin

Sudoriferous (sweat) glands

Produce sweat
Widely distributed in skin
Two types

Eccrine

Open via duct to pore on skin surface

most common; secretes sweat, eliminates wastes,
maintains core temp

Apocrine

Ducts empty into hair follicles

activated during puberty, located in armpit, groin,

Appendages of the Skin

Figure 4.6b

Sweat and Its Function

Composition

Function

Mostly water
Salts and vitamin C
Some metabolic waste
Fatty acids and proteins (apocrine only)
Helps dissipate excess heat
Excretes waste products
Acidic nature inhibits bacteria growth

Odor is from associated bacteria

Appendages of the Skin

Ceruminous

glands
Located in ear canal
Produces ear wax (cerumen)
Too much wax can cause a
blockage of ear canal, loss of
hearing

Appendages of the Skin

Hair follicles composed of epithelial cells, distributed all

over body except for palms, anterior side of fingers, soles,
genitalia, and lips
Dermal and epidermal sheath surround hair root
Genetics and hormones determine thickness and
distribution of hair
Hair is also important for protection and reproduction
Melanocytes provide pigment for hair color
Arrector pili muscle
Smooth muscle
Pulls hairs upright when cold or frightened (goose
bumps)

Appendages of the Skin

Figure 4.7c

Appendages of the Skin

Hair anatomy

Central medulla
Cortex surrounds
medulla
Cuticle on outside
of cortex

Most heavily
keratinized
Figure 4.7b

Appendages of the Skin

Figure 4.7a

Appendages of the Skin

Figure 4.8

Appendages of the Skin

Nails Plates of tightly packed, hard, keratinized

cells of epidermis

Very protective of ends of fingers; aids in

grasping and manipulating small objects;
scratching
Stratum basale extends beneath the nail
bed
Responsible for growth
Lack of pigment makes them colorless

Appendages of the Skin

Nails can indicate health issues

Bluish nail beds may indicate circulation issue

White nail bed or oval depressions can indicate anemia
Pigmented spot (not injury) can indicate melanoma
Horizontal furrows may indicate period of illness or
malnutrition
Disorders of heart, liver, or lungs may cause extreme
curvature of nails
Red streaks in nails may be traced to RA, uclers, or
hypertension

Nails: Figure 6.4

Free edge extends past end of finger

Nail plate / body visible part of nail

Nail root sides and bottom of nail in groove, hidden by

cuticle

Nail bed skin surface that is covered by nail plate

Cuticle skin around bottom of nail (stratum corneum)

Lunula half-moon shaped white area at base of nail; the

most active growing region

average growth is 0.5 to 1 mm per week

Appendages of the Skin

Figure 4.9

Skin Functions

Table 4.1 (1 of 2)

Skin Functions

Table 4.1 (2 of 2)

Overall Functions of the

Integumentary System

Regulation of body temperatures

Sensitivity
Excretion and absorption
Vitamin D synthesis
Protection
Barrier to microorganisms
Barrier to chemical hazards
Reduces injury to underlying structures
Prevents dehydration
Protects (via melanin) excessive UV exposure
Surface film protective barrier over skins surface; (like
wax on your car)

6.4 Regulation of Body Temp.

How does your skin aid in regulating
body temperature?
What portion of the brain controls the
set point for body temperature?
Differentiate between hypothermia and
hyperthermia. Discuss the
consequences of each.

6.5 Healing of Wounds

What is inflammation? Is it normal or
abnormal and why?
Differentiate between the healing
processes of a superficial wound and a
deeper wound. Which one would result
in a scar?

Skin Homeostatic Imbalances

Infections
Athletes foot (tinea pedis)
Caused by fungal infection
Itchy, red, peeling condition of skin between the toes
Boils and carbuncles
Caused by bacterial infection
Common on dorsal neck, inflammation of hair follicles and
sebaceous glands.
Cold sores
Caused by virus (herpes simplex) activated by stress, fever,
illness, and UV Radiation
Small fluid-filled blisters that itch and sting

Homeostatic Imbalances

Skin Homeostatic Imbalances

Infections and allergies

Contact dermatitis
Exposures cause allergic reaction
Itching, redness, and swelling of skin progressing to blistering
Impetigo
Caused by bacterial infection
Pink, water-filled, raised lesions (nose and mouth) that develop a
yellow crust and eventually rupture
Psoriasis
Cause is unknown
Triggered by trauma, infection, stress
Overproduction of skin cells, reddened epidermal lesions covered
with dry, silvery scales that itch, burn, crack and sometimes bleed.

Skin Homeostatic Imbalances

Figure 4.10

Skin Homeostatic Imbalances

Burns

Tissue damage and cell death caused by

heat, electricity, UV radiation, or chemicals
Associated dangers
Dehydration
Electrolyte imbalance
Circulatory shock

Rule of Nines
Way to determine the extent of burns
Body is divided into 11 areas for quick
estimation
Each area represents about 9% of total
body surface area

Rule of Nines

Figure 4.11a

Severity of Burns

First-degree burns

Second-degree burns

Only epidermis is damaged

Skin is red and swollen

Epidermis and upper dermis are damaged

(partial-thickness burn)
Skin is red with blisters

Third-degree burns

Destroys entire skin layer (full-thickness

burn)
Burn is gray-white or black

Severity of Burns

Figure 4.11b

Critical Burns

Burns are considered critical if

Over 25% of body has second-degree

burns
Over 10% of the body has third-degree
burns
There are third-degree burns of the face,
hands, or feet

Skin Cancer
Cancerabnormal cell mass
Classified two ways

Benign

Malignant

Does not spread (encapsulated)

Metastasized (moves) to other parts of the
body

Skin cancer is the most common type of

cancer

Skin Cancer Types

Basal cell carcinoma

Least malignant 99% cure in which

lesion is removed surgically
Most common type Sun Exposure
Arises from stratum basale cells are
altered so that they cannot form keratin

They invade dermis and subcutaneous tissue

Symptoms: shiny, dome-shaped nodule

that later develop a central ulcer with a
pearly beaded edge.

Skin Cancer Types

Figure 4.12a

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Skin Cancer Types

Squamous cell carcinoma

Metastasizes to lymph nodes if not removed
Early removal allows a good chance of cure
Believed to be sun-induced
Arises from stratum spinosum
Symptoms: lesion, scaly, reddened papule (small, rounded
elevation), that gradually forms a shallow ulcer with a firm,
raised border.
Grows rapidly and metastasizes to adjacent lymph nodes if
not removed
If caught early and removed surgically or by radiation the
cure rate is good.

Squamos Cell Carcinoma

Skin Cancer Types

Figure 4.12b

Skin Cancer Types

Malignant melanoma
Most deadly of skin cancers
Cancer of melanocytes
Metastasizes rapidly to lymph and blood vessels
Detection uses ABCD rule
Cause: Genetics, accumulated damage to DNA in skin cells
Symptoms: arise as a spreading brown to black patch that
metastasizes rapidly to surrounding lymph and blood vessels
Chance of survival is 50%
Accounts for 5% of skin cancers

Skin Cancer Types

Figure 4.12c

Malignant Melanoma

ABCD Rule

A = Asymmetry

B = Border irregularity

Different colors in pigmented area

D = Diameter

Borders of mole are not smooth

C = Color

Two sides of pigmented mole do not match

Spot is larger then 6 mm in diameter

E = Elevation/Evolves

Spot is elevated or changes over time