ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: Stratum Granulosum

● Flat and diamond shaped

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM ● Cells’ nuclei and organelles degenerate and die, giving
● Consists of skin and accessory structures such as this layer its grainy appearance
hair, glands, and nails Stratum Lucidum
● Thin, clear zone bet. stratum granulosum and corneum
Functions (PSVTE) ● Cells no longer have nuclei or organelles = cells stain
1. Protection more lightly
a. Against abrasion, UV light Stratum Corneum
2. Sensation ● Most superficial stratum of the epidermis
a. Sensory receptors ● Consists of dead squamous cells filled with keratin
3. Vitamin D production that gives it its structural strength
a. UV to Vitamin D, calcium homeostasis ● Also coated by lamellar bodies (lipids) of the skin
4. Temperature regulation cells that act as waterproofing material
a. Body temp. regulation ● Composed of 25 or more layers of dead squamous
5. Excretion cells joined by desmosomes
a. Waste products ● Callus - thickened area of stratum corneum
● Corn - over a bony prominence, the stratum corneum

Skin can thicken to form a cone-shaped structure

Epidermis
● Most superficial layer Thick skin - has all 5 strata and is found in areas subjected to

● stratified squamous epithelium pressure or friction (palms, sole of the feet, and

● In the deepest layers, mitosis occurs fingertips)

Thin skin - lacks the stratum lucidum and covers the rest of

Keratinization the body

● Cells change shape and chemical composition *only refer to the number of epidermal strata

● Cells become filled with keratin (dead cells)

● Transformation of the living cells of the stratum
basale into the dead squamous cells of the stratum
corneum

Strata/Layers of the Epidermis COME, LET’S GET SUN BURN

Stratum Basale
● Deepest, cuboidal & columnar cells that undergo
mitotic divisions after 19 days
Dermis
● One daughter cells become a new stratum basale
● Dense, collagenous connective tissue containing
Stratum Corneum
fibroblasts, adipocytes, and macrophages
● Flattened appearance and accumulate lipid-filled
● Collagen and elastic fibers gives strength to the
vesicles called lamellar bodies
dermis
 ● Cleavage lines - tension lines; has more collagen Skin Color
oriented in the same direction ● Factors that determine skin color are PIGMENTS IN

○ An incision made across cleavage lines is THE SKIN, BLOOD CIRCULATING THRU THE SKIN, and

likely to gap and produce scar tissue the THICKNESS OF THE STRATUM CORNEUM

Melanin
● Pigment primarily responsible for skin, eye, and hair
color
● Most melanin molecules are brown to black, some are
yellowish or redish
● Provides protection from UV light from the sun
● Produced by melanocytes
○ Irregularly shaped cells bet. stratum basale
and spinosum
● Stretch marks - overstretched skin; damaged dermis
○ Have long processes that extend bet. the
● Dermal Papillae
epithelias cells of the deep part of the
○ Projections of upper part of the dermis that
epidermis
extend toward the epidermis
○ Melanosomes - vesicles derived from the
○ Contains many blood vessels *note epidermis
Golgi A. that move cell processes of the
is avascular*
melanocytes; s. basale
○ Supplies the overlying epidermis with
● Production of melanin in response to UV light is a
nutrients, removes waste products, and
protective measure, reducing DNA damage
regulates body temperature
● Estrogen and melanocyte-stimulating hormone cause
○ Friction ridges - parallel curving ridges in the
an increase in melanin prod. during pregnancy =
dermal papillae of palms, sole of the feet and
darkening the nipples, pigmented circular areas
tips of the digits; improves grip
around the nipples, genitalia, cheeks, forehead &
abdomen midline
Injection Delivery
● Intradermal injection
○ delivers material to the blood slowly
○ Shallow angle into the dermis (tuberculin
skin test)
● Subcutaneous injection
○ Pinching skin to form a “tent” and inserting
a short needle into the adipose tissue of the Factors of Melanin Production
subcutaneous tissue (insulin injection) ● Genetic factors
● Intramuscular injection ○ All humans have same # of melanocytes
○ Delivers material to the blood faster ○ Skin color variations depende on amount,
○ Insertion of a long needle at a 90° angle into kind, and distribution of melanin
a muscle deep to the subcutaneous tissue ● Exposure to light
○ Used for vaccines and antibiotics\ ● Hormones
Albinism - recessive genetic trait that causes Growth Stage
deficiency/absence of melanin = fair skin, white hair, ● Hair is formed by epithelial cells within the hair bulb
unpigmented irises ● Divide and undergo keratinization
Cyanosis - bluish skin color due to low blood O₂ content ● Hair root + shaft = columns of dead keratinized
Carotene - yellow pigment (squash & carrots); source of Vit. A epithelial cells
Birthmarks - congenital disorder of the blood vessels in the
dermis Resting Stage
● Growth stops
Subcutaneous Layer/Hypodermis ● Hair is held in the follicle
● Not part of the skin but instead attaches the skin to
the underlying bone and muscle and supplies it with Next growth stage
blood vessels and nerves ● New hair is formed
● Loose, connective tissue and adipose tissue ● Old hair falls out
● Storage of our body fat (padding and insulation)
Eyelashes - grow 30 days; rest 105 days
Accessory Skin Structures Scalp hairs - grow 3 years; rest 1-2 years

Hair Arrector pili - smooth muscles associated with each follicle;

● Found everywhere except PALMS, SOLES, LIPS, contraction = hair becomes perpendicular “stand on

NIPPLES, PARTS OF THE GENITALIA, and the DISTAL end,” “goose bump”

SEGMENTS OF THE FINGERS AND TOES

● Colums of dead, keratinized epithelial cells Glands

● Produced in the hair bulb 1. Sebaceous Gland

● Simple, branched acinar glands

Hair follicle - invagination of the epidermis that extends deep ● Connected by a duct to the superficial part of the hair

into the dermis (where each hair rises) follicle

Shaft - above the skin ● Sebum - oily, white substance in lipids; release by

Root - below the skin holocrine secretion; lubricates hair and surface of

Hair bulb - expanded base of the root (site of hair cell skin (prevents dying and protects against bacteria)

formation) 2. Sweat Glands

Cuticle - covers cortex and medulla; single layer of overlapping a. Eccrine Sweat Glands

cells that hold the hair in the follicle ■ Simple, coiled, tubular glands

Cortex - hard keratin; surrounds medulla ■ Mecocrine secretion = sweat

Medulla - surrounded by cortex, soft center ■ Almost in every part of the skin esp.

Hair papilla - extension of the dermis; protrudes into the bulb; in the palms and soles

blood vessels within supply the bulb with nourishment ■ Water with a few salts
■ ↑temp. = sweat production for
cooling down
b. Apocrine Sweat Glands
■ Simple, coiled, tubular glands
 ■ Produce a thich secretion rich in ● Stratified squamous epithelium protects underlying
organic substances structures against abrasion
■ Mecocrine secretion (primary); ● Melanin absorbs UV light and protects underlying
holocrine secretion (some glands) structures from damage
■ Armpits and genitalia only ● Hair protection
■ Become active at puberty because ○ Hair on head - heat insulator
of hormones ○ Eyebrows - keep sweat out of the eye
■ Body odor - organic secretion ○ Eyelashes - protects the eyes from foreign
broken down by bacteria substances
3. Other Glands ○ Hair on nose & ear - prevents dust entry
a. Ceruminous - cerumen (earwax) 2. Sensation
b. Mammary - milk ● Sensory receptors for pain, heat, cold, and pressure
3. Vitamin D Production
Nails ● Skin exposed to UV light produces precursor molecule
● Thin, plate of dead stratum corneum cells of vit. D
● Contains very hard type of keratin ● Precursor → blood (by liver for modification) →
● Grows continuously; no resting stage kidney = active Vit. D
● Best sources of vit. D = fatty fish (fish oils), vit. D
Nail body - visible part fortified milk
Nail root - part of the nail covered by skin ● Other sources of vit. D = eggs, butter, liver (active vit.
Cuticle - eponychium; stratum corneum that extends into the D stimulates the small intestine to absorb calcium
nail body and phosphate (normal bone growth & muscle
Nail Matrix - produces the nail; nail root extends distally; function)
thicker than nail bed; 4. Temperature Regulation
Nail Bed - nail attaches here; distal to the nail matrix ● Normal body temperature = 37℃ (98.6℉)
Lunula - small part of the nail matrix; whitish, crescent-shaped ● Rate of chemical reaction within the body can be
area at the base of the nail increased or decreased by body temperature changes
○ Exercise, fever, increase in environmental
temperature
○ Homeostasis
● Vasodilation and vasoconstriction
● If skin temp. Drop to 15℃ (59℉) = dermal blood
vessels dilate
Physiology of the Integumentary S. 5. Excretion
1. Protection ● Skin glands remove WATER and SALT
● Reduce water loss (lipid barrier to the diffusion of ● Also removes small amounts of waste products like
water) UREA, URIC ACID, and AMMONIA
● Barrier; prevents microorganisms from entering the
body
Integumentary S. as a Diagnostic Aid ○ Deep dermal damage
Cyanosis - bluish color to the skin cause by decreased blood O₂ 1. Wounds = Red, tan, or
content white
Jaundice - yellowish skin color caused by liver damage (viral 2. Takes several months to
hepatitis) heal
- Bile pigments build up in the blood and tissues can 3. Might scar
indicate impaired liver fundtion 2. Full-thickness
Rashes and lesion - symptoms of problems elsewhere (scarlet ● Third-degree burns
fever - bacteria infecting the throat release a toxin ● All layers of the skin are completely destroyed
into the blood that causes a reddish rash on the skin) ● Recovery occurs from the edges of the burn wound
Vitamin A Deficiency - skin produces excess keratin = ● Usually painless because sensory receptors in the
sandpaper texture epidermis and dermis are destroyed
Iron Deficiency Anemina - nails lose their normal contour and ● Appear white, tan, brown, black, or deep cherry red
become flat or concave (spoon-shape) ● Skin grafts - used to prevents complications and to
Lead Poisoning - high levels of lead in the hair spread healing

Burns
● Injury to a tissue caused by heat, cold, friction,
chemical, electrical, or radiation

1. Partial-thickness
● Stratum Basale remains viable
● Regeneration of the epidermis occurs within the burn
area
a. First-degree burns
○ Only the epidermis (red and painful)
○ Slight edema - swelling
○ May be caused by sunburn or brief
exposure to very hot or very cold
object
○ Heal without scarring
b. Second-degree burns
○ Epidermis and dermis
○ Minimal dermal damage
1. Redness, pain, edema,
blisters
2. Healing = 2 weeks
3. No scarring