The Integumentary System

by
Dr. ROMILA AFZAL
Integumentary System:
Skin and its appendages make up the
integumentary system.

Skin is the largest organ of body.

Integument is skin
Study of skin is called dermatology.

Three major layers of skin are;

1.Epidermis
2.Dermis
3.A fatty layer (hypodermis) lies deep to it.
Epidermis

Dermis

Hypodermis
Epidermis (epi-upon):
-Composed of epithelial tissue (stratified squamous).
-Non-vascularized.

Dermis – underlies the epidermis

-Tough leathery layer composed of fibrous connective
tissue
-Good supply of blood

Hypodermis (not considered skin)

-Made of adipose and areolar tissue
-Stores fat, anchors skin.
Epidermis

Basement Membrane

Dermis
Functions of skin

1.Protection:
 Cushions and insulates and is waterproof
 Protects from chemicals, heat, cold.
 Protects body against pathogens.
 Screens UV.

2.Sensory reception:
contains variety of nerve endings that jump to heat and
cold, touch,pressure,vibration and tissue injury.
3.Excretion:
Sweating is an important outlet for wastes
such as salt and nitrogen containing
compounds.
4.Absorption:
can absorb chemical substances e.g,
glycerine patches and ointments.
5.Storage:
acts as storage center for water and lipids.
6.Regulates body temperature:
Skin contains sweat glands that secrete
watery fluid, that when evaporated, cools the
body.
7.Synthesizes of Vit.D:
cholesterol in the skin is bombarded by
sunlight and converted to vitamin D (calcium
cannot be absorbed from digestive tract)
8.Repair after trauma:
9.Prevents unnecessary water loss:
Structure of skin:
Epidermis:
(Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium)

◼ Four types of cells

 Keratinocytes – deepest, produce keratin
(tough fibrous protein).
 Melanocytes - make dark skin pigment
melanin.
 Merkel cells – associated with sensory nerve
endings.
 Langerhans cells – macrophage-like dendritic
cells.
Layers (from deep to superficial):
Stratum basale or germinativum:
-Single row of cells attached to dermis.
-Youngest cells
-Deepest layer of skin.
-Melanocytes secrete pigment melanin.

Stratum spinosum:
-Contains thick bundles of intermediate
tonofilaments (bundles of protein)
-Contains star shaped Langerhans cells.
Stratum granulosum:
-Layers of flattened keratinocytes producing
keratin (hair and nails made of it also).

Stratum lucidum:
-Only on palms and soles.
-Composed of a few rows of flat dead
keratinocytes.

Stratum corneum:
-Most superficial layer.
-horny layer (cells dead, many layers thick)
-Protects against penetration.
Dermis:
-Composed of Strong, flexible connective tissue.
-Rich supply of nerves and vessels
-Critical role in temperature regulation (the
vessels)
-Has hair follicles, oil and sweat glands and
sensory receptors

Cells: fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, WBCs

Fiber types: collagen, elastic, reticular
Two layers:
Papillary layer – areolar connective tissue;
includes dermal papillae.

Reticular layer– “reticulum” (network) of collagen

and reticular fibers.
-Filled with dense irregular fibrous connective
tissue
-Matrix is filled with thick bundles of collagen fibers
(give the skin strength)
-Less dense regions are called lines of cleavage.
*Dermis layers *Dermal papillae

*
Epidermis and dermis of (a) thick skin and (b) thin skin
(which one makes the difference?)
Hypodermis
“Hypodermis” (Gk) = below the skin
◼ Also called “superficial fascia”
“fascia” (Latin) =sheet of connective tissue
◼ Fatty tissue which stores fat and anchors
skin (areolar tissue and adipose cells)
What causes the colour of Skin:
◼ 3 pigments contribute to skin color
 Melanin- protein pigment (natural sunscreen)
◼ Can range in color from yellow to reddish-brown to black

◼ Everyone has the same number of melanocytes but make

varying amounts and colors (differences in skin color)
◼ Increased melanin production can caused by sunlight.
 Carotene-yellow to orange pigment found in carrots.
◼ Most commonly found in the palms or soles. Most intense
when large amounts of carotene-rich foods are eaten.
 Hemoglobin- Red blood gives a pinkish hue to fair
skin.
Skin appendages:
❑ Skin appandages are skin associated structures
that serve a particular function including;
sensation, contractility, lubrication and heat loss.
❑ In humans some of the more common skin
appendages are;
-Nails
-Hair and hair follicles
-Sebaceous (oil) glands
-Sweat (sudoiferous) glands
Nails:
◼ Nails are modified keratin protein lying on
the dorsal surface of the distal phalanges
of the fingers and toes.
◼ Made of tightly compressed keratinized
cells.
◼ Useful tools to pick up small objects
◼ Nail matrix is the region responsible for
nail growth.
Parts of a Nail:
Nail Plate: The part which is visible.
Nail Root: The hidden part of the nail.
Nail Folds: These are skin folds bounding
the nail.
Nail Bed: Beneath the nail plate is stratified
squamous epithelium called the nail bed.
Nail Matrix: Beneath the proximal portion of
the nail fold is epithelium from which the nail
grows about 0.5mm per week.
What are Hairs?
◼ Made from hair follicles
◼ Made of dead keratinized skin cells
◼ Two parts:
 Root imbedded in skin
 Shaft projecting above skin surface

◼ Shaft has 3 layers of cells

 Medulla(central core)
 Cortex (bulky layer surrounds medulla)
 Cuticle (heavily keratinized; protects hair)
◼ Functions of hair:
 Warmth – less in humans than other
mammals.
 Sense light touch of the skin.
 Hair on the head protects the head from a
blow, sunlight and heat loss.
 Eyelashes shield the eye.
 Nose hairs filter the air.
◼ Types of hair:
 Vellus: fine, short hairs.
 Intermediate hairs.
 Terminal: longer, courser hair.
Layers of hair follicles:

◼ Internal and External Root Sheath – forms

growing hair
◼ Papilla – Actively dividing cells that produce hair
◼ Blood Vessels – feed the growing hair
◼ Bulb – Bottom of Hair Follicle – contains the
papilla and blood vessels
◼ Hair Shaft – Made up of Cuticle, Cortex, Medulla
Layers of the hair follicle:
◼ Hair color
 Amount of melanin for black or brown; distinct
form of melanin for red.
 White: decreased melanin.
 Genetically determined though influenced by
hormones and environment.
◼ Hair growth: averages 2 mm/week
 Active: growing
 Resting phase then shed.
◼ Hair loss
 Thinning – age related
 Male pattern baldness
Hair is made of Protein

◼ Hair is made of tight, closely packed dead

cells that are made up of myofibrils or
bundles of helical keratin
Sebaceous (oil) Glands
◼ Entire body except palms and soles.
◼ Produce sebum.
◼ Oils and lubricates.
◼ Softens and lubricates hair and skin.
◼ Slows water loss and kills bacteria.
 Sweat glands
◼ Entire skin surface
except nipples and
part of external
genitalia.
◼ Prevent overheating
◼ 500 to 12 l/day! (is
mostly water).
◼ Humans most
efficient
◼ Produced in
response to stress
as well as heat.
 Types of sweat glands
◼ Eccrine or merocrine:
 Most common sweat glands
 Hot sweats vs. Cold sweats
 sweat: 99% water, some salts, traces of waste
Apocrine: produce sweat plus a milky or yellowish
substance composed of fat and protein.
 Found in the arm pits and genitalia
 Thought to be scent glands.
 Axillary, anal and genital areas only
 The organic molecules in it decompose with time - odor
◼ Modified apocrine glands:
 Ceruminous – secrete cerumin (earwax).
 Mammary – secrete milk
Clinical Anatomy of Skin:
Acne:
A common and chronic disorder of the
sebaceous glands.
Athlete’s foot:
A contagious fungal infection of the
epidermis.
Dermatitis:
A non-specific inflammation of the skin.
Psoriasis:
The chronic inflammatory skin disease.
Causes are unknown.No definiite treatment.
Skin Cancer:
Most common type of cancer.
Associated with exposure to UV light. Other
factors include;
-Heridetary
-Chemical Exposure
End of Integumentary System

We may have
different religions,
different languages,
different colored
skin but we all
belong to human
race.