HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Week 5: Integumentary System

 Integumentary
System
• Integumentary system is comprised of skin
and its accessory components including
hair, nails, and associated glands

• The skin is made of multiple layers of cells

and tissues, which are held to underlying
structures by connective tissue.

• The deeper layer of skin is well vascularized

(has numerous blood vessels). It also has
numerous sensory, and autonomic and
sympathetic nerve fibers ensuring
communication to and from the brain.
• Integumentary system performs several vital functions:
• Protection from pathogens
• Balances fluid levels
• Stores fatty tissue for energy supply
• Produces vitamin D (with help from sun)
• Provides sensory input
• Helps to regulate body temperature

• Largest organ, weighing approximately 20 pounds and

covering area about 20.83 square feet on an adult
• Cross section
of skin reveals
three layers:

• Epidermis
• Dermis
• Subcutaneous
Fascia
(hypodermis)
 Epidermis
• Layer of skin we see on the
outside; made up of five or
six even smaller layers of
tissue
• There are no blood vessels
or nerve endings in this
layer
• Cells on surface are
constantly shedding, being
replaced with new cells that
grow and arise from deeper
region called stratum basale
every 2–4 weeks
 Outermost layer is
layer of dead cells,
called stratum
corneum, which are
flat, scaly, keratinized
epithelial cells

You slough off 500

million cells every day,
or about 1½ pounds of
dead skin a year,
allowing for rapid
repair in case of
injuries
 STRATUM BASALE

The stratum basale (also called the

stratum germinativum) is the
deepest epidermal layer and
attaches the epidermis to the basal
lamina, below which lie the layers
of the dermis. The cells in the
stratum basale bond to the dermis
via intertwining collagen fibers,
referred to as the basement
membrane.
 STRATUM BASALE
The stratum basale is a single layer of cuboidal-
shaped keratinocytes. All of the keratinocytes
are produced from this single layer of cells. As
new cells are formed, the existing cells are
pushed superficially away from the stratum
basale. Two other cell types that can be found:

• Merkel cell, which functions as a receptor

and is responsible for stimulating sensory
nerves that the brain perceives as touch.
• melanocyte, a cell that produces the
pigment melanin. Melanin gives hair and
skin its color, and also helps protect the
living cells of the epidermis from
ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage.
 STRATUM SPINOSUM

As the name suggests, the stratum

spinosum is spiny in appearance due
to the protruding cell processes that
join the cells via a structure called
a desmosome. The desmosomes
interlock with each other and
strengthen the bond between the
cells. It is interesting to note that the
“spiny” nature of this layer is an
artifact of the staining process.
Unstained epidermis samples do not
exhibit this characteristic appearance.
STRATUM GRANULOSUM

The stratum granulosum has a

grainy appearance due to
further changes to the
keratinocytes as they are
pushed from the stratum
spinosum. The cells (three to
five layers deep) become
flatter, their cell membranes
thicken, and they generate
large amounts of the proteins
keratin
 STRATUM LUCIDUM

The stratum lucidum is a smooth,

seemingly translucent layer of the
epidermis located just above the
stratum granulosum and below the
stratum corneum. This thin layer of cells
is found only in the thick skin of the
palms, soles, and digits.
The keratinocytes that compose the
stratum lucidum are dead and
flattened. These cells are densely
packed with eleiden, a clear protein rich
in lipids, derived from keratohyalin,
which gives these cells their transparent
(i.e., lucid) appearance and provides a
barrier to water.
STRATUM CORNEUM

The stratum corneum is the

most superficial layer of the
epidermis and is the layer
exposed to the outside
environment. The increased
keratinization (also called
cornification) of the cells in
this layer gives it its name.
 DERMIS
contains blood and lymph vessels,
nerves, and other structures, such as Papillary Layer

hair follicles and sweat glands. The

dermis is made of two layers of
connective tissue that compose an
interconnected mesh of elastin and
collagenous fibers, produced by Reticular Layer
fibroblasts
 The papillary layer is made of loose,
areolar connective tissue, which means
the collagen and elastin fibers of this
layer form a loose mesh. This superficial
layer of the dermis projects into the
stratum basale of the epidermis to form Papillary Layer
finger-like dermal papillae. Within the
papillary layer are fibroblasts, a small
number of fat cells (adipocytes), and an
abundance of small blood vessels. In
addition, the papillary layer contains
phagocytes, defensive cells that help Reticular Layer
fight bacteria or other infections that
have breached the skin. This layer also
contains lymphatic capillaries, nerve
fibers, and touch receptors called the
Meissner corpuscles.
 Underlying the papillary layer is the much
thicker reticular layer, composed of dense,
irregular connective tissue. This layer is well
vascularized and has a rich sensory and
sympathetic nerve supply. The reticular
layer appears reticulated (net-like) due to a Papillary Layer
tight meshwork of fibers. Elastin
fibers provide some elasticity to the skin,
enabling movement. Collagen fibers provide
structure and tensile strength, with strands
of collagen extending into both the papillary
layer and the hypodermis. In addition, Reticular Layer
collagen binds water to keep the skin
hydrated. Collagen injections and Retin-A
creams help restore skin turgor by either
introducing collagen externally or
stimulating blood flow and repair of the
dermis, respectively.
 HYPODERMIS
The hypodermis (also called the
subcutaneous layer or superficial fascia)
is a layer directly below the dermis and
serves to connect the skin to the
underlying fascia (fibrous tissue) of the
bones and muscles. It is not strictly a
part of the skin, although the border
between the hypodermis and dermis
can be difficult to distinguish. The
hypodermis consists of well-
vascularized, loose, areolar connective
tissue and adipose tissue, which
functions as a mode of fat storage and
provides insulation and cushioning for
the integument.
 The color of skin is
influenced by a number of
pigments, including melanin,
carotene, and hemoglobin.
Recall that melanin is
produced by cells called
melanocytes, which are
found scattered throughout
the stratum basale of the
epidermis. The melanin is
transferred into the
keratinocytes via a cellular
vesicle called a melanosome
 How do skin heals?
• If skin is punctured and wound
damages blood vessels, wound
fills with blood; blood contains
substances that cause clotting;
top part of clot exposed to air
hardens to form scab, nature’s
band-aid, forming barrier and
preventing pathogens from
entering
• Next, white blood cells enter
and destroy any pathogens,
while fibroblasts come and
begin pulling edges of wound
together; basale layer hyper-
produces cells for repair of
wound
• If wound is deep, scar, composed of collagen fibers, develops; scars don’t
contain any accessory organs or nerve endings; stitches, adhesive strips
(butterflies), or special glue reduce scarring
• Note, wound ideally starts to heal from inside out; this aids in preventing
pathogens from becoming trapped between healed surface and deeper
layer of skin where they could develop into pocket of infection
 Nails
• Specialized epithelial
cells originating from
nail root form nails
• As cells grow out and
over nail bed, they
become keratinized
forming substance
similar to horns on a
bull
• Cuticle is fold of tissue
that covers nail root
 Nails
• Pink color of nail comes
from vascularization of
tissue under nails, while
white half-moon shaped
area, or lunula is result of
thicker layer of cells at base
• Portion that we see is called
nail body
• Nails normally grow 1 mm
every week
 HAIR
• Body hair is normal and serves
important purposes
• Helps to regulate body
temperature and functions as
sensor to help detect things on skin
such as bugs or cobwebs
• Eyelashes help to protect eyes
from foreign objects while hair in
nose helps filter out particulate
matter
 HAIR
• Visible hair composed of fibrous
protein called keratin
• Hair you see is called shaft with root
extending down into dermis to
follicle
 HAIR
• Follicle is formed by epithelial
cells with rich source of blood
provided by dermal blood
vessels
• Cells divide and grow in base
of follicle, older cells are
pushed away and die, so shaft
of hair is comprised of dead
cells
• Shaving or cutting hair doesn’t
make it grow quicker or thicker
 HAIR
• There is a sebaceous gland
associated with each hair follicle,
secreting sebum that coats hair
follicle and works its way to skin’s
surface to prevent drying of hair,
acting as anti-bacterial, and
lubricating hair shaft

• Sebum production decreases with

age, explaining why older people
have drier skin and more brittle hair
 HAIR

• Hair color is dependent on amount and

type of melanin you produce
• The more melanin, the darker your hair
• White hair occurs in absence of
melanin
• Red hair is result of hair that has
melanin with iron in it
• Flat hair shafts produce curly hair,
while round hair shafts produce
straight hair
• Alopecia is term for any
type of hair loss and can
be acute or chronic
• Some forms, such as male
pattern baldness, do not
represent a disease, but are
inherited traits
• Hair loss can also be a result
of chemotherapy for cancer
treatments, hormonal
imbalance, scale infections,
severe emotional or
physical stress, or side
effects of other medications Abby Asistio
 Temperature Regulation
• Integumentary system plays major role in regulation of body’s temperature
• Part of regulation of temperature is accomplished by changes in size of
blood vessels:
• Vasodilation exposes heated blood to external cooling air
• Vasoconstriction keeps cooling of blood to minimum when it’s cold
outside
• Sweat glands excrete water onto skin’s surface, allowing cooling through
evaporation; requires adequate hydration to continue to produce sweat
• By the time you feel thirsty you’re already dehydrating; you can potentially
secrete 12 liters of sweat in a 24 hour period
 Temperature
Regulation
• Shivering causes muscle
activity that produces heat to
warm you when you’re cold
• Hairs on skin stand erect
when arrector pili muscles
contract; known as goose
bumps; these hairs create
dead space insulating you
from cooler surroundings,
like a goose down jacket
Why are elephant ears so big?
Thank you