Integumentary System
Consists
Skin
Epidermal derivatives (accessory
organs)
ohair follicles
osebaceous glands
osweat glands
onails
Skin
skin is the largest organ of the body, it constitutes
about 16% of body weight
its total surface area is about 1.2-2.2 m2
Varies in thickness at different parts (< 0.5 mm
at eyelids to > 5 mm on middle of upper back)
Composed of many
different tissues
stratified squamous
epithelium
glandular epithelium
dense irregular CT
smooth muscle tissue
blood vessels
adipose tissue
nervous tissue, etc
Two distinct regions or layers
Epidermis = outermost layer
keratinized stratified squamous ET
Dermis = inner layer
keratinized epithelium (hair follicles)
glandular epithelium (sweat, sebaceous glands)
dense irregular CT (collagen)
smooth muscle tissue (arrector pili muscles)
nervous tissue (Meissner's & Pacinian
Corpuscles)
blood vessels
Subcutaneous layer = adipose tissue
distinct layer beneath skin
Each skin layer has its own unique function
Epidermis = protection
Dermis = nourishment of epidermis
Subcutaneous layer = insulation
Epidermis
Stratified squamous epithelium
No blood vessels
In palms of hand and soles of feet, epidermis is thicker
Composed of five layers:
o Stratum corneum
o Stratum lucidum
o Stratum granulosum
o Stratum spinosum
o Stratum basale
Cells of The Epidermis
Keratinocytes
These are epithelial cells that form the stratified squamous
keratinized epithelium of epidermis
The most numerous cells found in the epidermis
The basal layers divide to replace the superficial dead cells
Melanocytes
They give the skin its color
They are present in the
stratum basale and
spinosum
Contain pigments
Eumelanin (dark hair)
pheomelanin (red hair )
The number of
Melanocytes is constant per
area in human regardless of
sex and race.
Skin color is the result of
amount of melanin granules
and Melanocytes activities
Pigment = Melanin
Determines skin color
People of different races have essentially the same number
of melanocytes BUT the amount of melanin produced
varies (determined by DNA)
Produced by melanocytes in stratum basale
Factors affecting melanin production
o UV rays
o Chemicals
o Drugs (antihistamines & antibiotics)
Other factors affecting skin color (but not melanin
production)
o Carotene - accumulate in s. corneum = yellow
o Hemoglobin (Hb) - in dermal blood vessels = pink
o Lack of Hb in dermal blood vessels = blue (cyanosis)
Langerhans Cells
They are star-shaped cells, in
stratum spinosum
Represent 2-8% of the
epidermal cells.
They are bone marrow
derived, carried to the skin
by the blood
Capable of binding,
processing, and presenting
antigens to T lymphocytes
They are antigen-
presenting cells
Merkel's Cells
Generally present in the
thick skin
They resemble the
epidermal epithelial cells
but have small dense
granules in their
cytoplasm.
Free nerve endings that
form an expanded
terminal disk are present
at the base of Merkel's
cells.
serve as sensory
mechanoreceptors
Dermis
Structure: two distinct layers
o Papillary layer (20%) - below epidermis
composed of loose areolar CT
surface forms dermal papillae (finger-like projections
into the epidermis) which house many Meissner's
Corpuscles (sensory receptor for light touch)
o Reticular layer (80%) = dense irregular CT
bundles of collagen fibers- Provide support for skin
reticular fibers- Thinner, yet still provide support
elastic fibers- Skin flexibility
Gives skin its strength and resiliency
Function
Bindsepidermis to underlying tissues
Nourishment of epidermis
Housing epidermal derivatives or accessory organs
Types of skin
Based on the thickness of the
epidermis
1. Thick
2. Thin
The junction of dermis and
epidermis is irregular, and
projections of the dermis
called papillae interdigitate
with evaginations of the
epidermis known as
epidermal ridges.
Thickness
75-150 micro meter in thin skin
400-600 micro meter in thick skin
Thick skin (smooth and non-hairy)
found on the palms and soles
Thin skin (hairy)
found elsewhere on the body
Total skin thickness (epidermis plus dermis) also
varies according to site. For example, skin on the
back is about 4 mm thick, whereas that of the
scalp is about 1.5 mm thick.
Comparison b/n thin and thick skins
Thick skin Thin skin
Sites Skin of palms and Others areas of
soles skins
Epidermis Thick thin
Stratum lucidum present absent
Dermis Regular dermal Irregular dermal
papillae papillae
hairs Absent present
Sebaceous glands Absent present
and arrector pili
muscles
Subcutaneous Layer
o Layer beneath skin
o a loose connective tissue that may contain a pad of
adipose cells, the panniculus adiposus.
o Is not considered part of the skin
o Binds skin loosely to the subjacent tissues and
corresponds to the superficial fascia of gross anatomy.
o Structure = adipose tissue & blood vessels
o Function = insulation
Skin circulation
Blood vessels of skin form two plexuses
Papillary plexus- is located between the papillary and
reticular layers
Dermal plexus- is located between the dermis and the
subcutaneous tissue.
Functions Of The Skin
[Link]
Non-specific immunity
Anatomical barrier against infection
Melanin = screen out excess UV rays
Dark skin due to wider distribution of melanin beyond
stratum basale into higher levels of epidermis
2. Thermoregulation
3. Vitamin D Synthesis
[Link] Perception
Millions of nerve endings
Receptor for pain, heat and pressure
Therefore, maintain homeostasis
5. Excretion
Excretion of lactic acid and sodium chloride
Urea (1 g nitrogenous waste eliminated through skin
per hour)
ACCESSORY ORGANS (Epidermal
Derivatives)
Hairs
Hairs are elongated keratinized structures
derived from invaginations of epidermal epithelium.
Their color, size, and disposition vary according to
race, age, sex, and region of the body.
Hairsare found everywhere on the body except on
the palms, soles, lips, glans penis, clitoris, and labia
minora.
The face has about 600 hairs/cm2, and the remainder
of the body has about 60/cm2.
Hairsgrow discontinuously and have periods of
growth followed by periods of rest.
The duration of the growth and rest periods also
varies according to the region of the body.
Thus, in the scalp, the growth periods (anagen) may
last for several years, whereas the rest periods
(catagen and telogen) average 3 months.
Each hair has a medulla surrounded with a cortex and covered with
cuticle
Structure:
Root or base in deep dermis
Follicle throughout dermis
Hair shaft in epidermis
Arrector Pili Muscle = a bundle of smooth muscle
associated with every hair follicle.
ocauses hair to stand on end ("goose bumps")
when frightened or cold
oSebum release from the sebaceous glands
Nails
They are plates of keratinized epithelial cells on the dorsal
surface of each distal phalanx.
The nail root - hidden in the nail groove and covered by
eponychium, or cuticle (stratum corneum )
The nail plate - rests on a bed of epidermis called the nail
bed.
Only the stratum basale and the stratum spinosum are
present in the nail bed.
Nail plate epithelium arises from the nail matrix.
Cells of the matrix divide, move distally, and eventually
cornify, forming the proximal part of the nail plate.
The distal end of the plate becomes free of the nail
bed and is worn away or cut off.
The nearly transparent nail plate and the thin
epithelium of the nail bed provide a useful window on
the amount of oxygen in the blood by showing the
color of blood in the dermal vessels.
Functions
o Manipulation
o protection of digit ends
Glands of the Skin
Sebaceous Glands
They are holocrine glands (simple cuboidal epithelium)
embedded in the dermis the skin.
Associated with every hair follicle
They start only after puberty and controlled by androgens
The acini consist of a basal layer of undifferentiated cells that
rests on the basal lamina.
These cells proliferate , filling the acini with rounded cells
containing increasing amounts of fat droplets in their
cytoplasm
Their nuclei gradually shrink, and the cells
simultaneously become filled with fat droplets
and burst.
The product of this process is called sebum,
the secretion of the sebaceous gland, which is
gradually moved to the surface of the skin.
Fat
Cellular material
Function of sebum
Sebum keeps skin & hair soft, pliable and
virtually waterproof!
Disorders
Acne (hypersecretion of sebum; ducts clog &
inflame)
Sweat Glands
are widely distributed in the
skin except for certain
regions, such as the glans
penis.
Two types: Eccrine
(merocrine) and Apocrine
Eccrine Glands
o Distributed almost all round
the body
o Secretory portion in
hypodermis
Structure:
are simple, coiled tubular
glands in deep dermis
Duct in dermis
Pore at surface (their ducts
open at the skin surface)
Characteristics:
Respond to elevated
temperature / exercise
No odor in secretion
Function throughout life
Not associated with hair
follicles
Location: forehead, neck,
back
Secretion (merocrine) =
water plus Salts and Wastes
(urea and uric acid)
Apocrine Sweat Glands
Structure: ducts terminate into
hair follicles
Characteristics:
o Respond to stress / emotions
o produce a viscous secretion that
is initially odorless but may
acquire a distinctive odor as a
result of bacterial decomposition
o Begin to function at puberty &
continue through life
o Associated with hair follicles
Location: in the axillary, areolar,
and anal regions
Secretion (apocrine)- Secretes
fatty substances
(Sweat, Oil and cellular debris)
Modified sweat glands
Ceruminous glands
o External ear
o Secretion = earwax
Mammary glands
o Breasts
o Secretion = milk
Summary of Skin Glands
The skin receptors
The skin is the richest organ in sensory receptors
which receive information from the outside
environment
They are more frequently found in the dermal
papillae.
The sensory receptors of the skin are concerned
with several senses such as:
Pain, temperature, touch and pressure
Ruffini endings(corpuscles)respond to
pressure and stretching
Krause corpuscle respond to pressure
Pacinian corpuscles (Vater pacini corpuscle)
Meissner corpuscle respond to fine touch and
vibration
Free nerve endings sensitive to touch-
pressure, tactile reception, high and low
temperatures, pain, itching
Hair follicle endings respond to hair
displacement
