MODULE 7

The SKIN and Its Derivatives

The Skin is the primary organ of the integumentary system and is the largest organ of the body. The skin
is a continuous sheet of cutaneous membrane. Skin is essential because it keeps water and other precious
molecules in the body. It also keeps excess water (and other things) out. (This is why you can swim for
hours without becoming waterlogged.) Structurally, the skin is a marvel. It is pliable yet robust, which
allows it to take constant punishment from external agents. Without our skin, we would quickly fall prey
to bacteria and perish from water and heat loss.

Learning Objectives

When you finish this module, you should be able to

1. Describe the primary functions of the skin and identify their roles.
2. Recognize and name the following skin structures: epidermis, dermis (papillary and reticular
layers), hair and hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and sweat gland.
3. Name the layers of the epidermis, and describe the characteristics of each.

Functions of the Skin

The following are the functions of the Skin:

1. Protects the body from injuries and damage

2. Acts as a barrier and regulates what enters/leaves the body
3. Thermoregulation
4. Synthesizes and stores vitamins
5. Sensory functions
6. Excretion
7. Absorption

Basic Skin Structures

Epidermis.
The epidermis is composed of the following structures:

1. Superficial layer composed of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

2. Inner layer very active in mitosis
3. Keratinization – keratin production
4. The outermost layer is dead, rigid cells
5. Permeability barrier
6. Resists abrasion
7. avascular

Layers of the Epidermis

The stratum basale also called the stratum germinativum, is the basal (base) layer of the
epidermis. It is the layer that’s closest to the blood supply lying underneath the epidermis.
This layer is one of the most important layers of our skin since it contains the only cells of the
epidermis that can divide via the process of mitosis, which means that skin cells germinate here,
hence the word germinativum. In this layer, the most numerous cells of the epidermis called
keratinocytes. Keratinocytes produce the essential protein of the epidermis. This protein is called
keratin. Keratin makes our skin tough and provides us with much-needed protection from
microorganisms, physical harm, and chemical irritation. Millions of these new cells arise in the
stratum basale daily. The newly produced cells push older cells into the upper layers of the
epidermis with time. As these older cells move up toward the surface, they change their shape,
nuclear, and chemical composition.
Stratum Spinosum. A layer so-called because its cells are spiny-shaped. The stratum spinosum is
partly responsible for the skin’s strength and flexibility.
Stratum granulosum. This layer gets its name from the fact that the cells located here contain
many granules. The keratinocytes produce a lot of keratin in this layer—they become filled with
keratin. This process is known as keratinization. The keratinocytes become flatter, more brittle,
and lose their nuclei in the stratum granulosum as well.
Once the keratinocytes leave the stratum granulosum, they die and help form the stratum
lucidum. This death occurs mainly as a result of the distance the keratinocytes find themselves
from the abundant blood supply the cells of the stratum basale lie on top off. Devoid of nutrients
and oxygen, the
keratinocytes die as they are pushed towards the surface of our skin.
The stratum lucidum is a layer that derives its name from the lucid (clear/transparent) appearance
it gives off under a microscope. This layer is only easily found in certain hairless parts of our body,
namely the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet: meaning, the places where our skin is
usually the thickest.
Stratum corneum (the horny layer filled with cornified cells). This the only layer of skin we see
with our eyes. The keratinocytes in this layer are called corneocytes. They are devoid of almost all
of their water, and they are entirely devoid of a nucleus at this point. They are dead skin cells
filled with the tough protein keratin. In essence, they are a protein mass more so than they are a
cell. The corneocytes serve as a hard-protective layer against environmental trauma, such as
abrasions, light, heat, chemicals, and microorganisms. The cells of the stratum corneum are also
surrounded by lipids (fats) that help repel water as well. These corneocytes are eventually shed
into the environment and become part of dandruff in our hair or the dust around us, which dust
mites readily munch on.

This entire cycle, from new keratinocyte in the stratum basale to a dead cell flaked off into the
air, takes between 25–45 days.
 Source: [Link]

Dermis
The layer of the skin deep to the epidermis with irregular fibrous connective tissue. The
dermis has connective tissue, blood vessels, oil and sweat glands, nerves, hair follicles,
and other structures. It is made up of a thin upper layer called the papillary dermis, and a
thick lower layer called the reticular dermis.

Subcutaneous Tissue, Hypodermis, Superficial Fascia

is the innermost layer of the skin. It's made up of fats and connective tissues that house
larger blood vessels and nerves, and it acts as an insulator to help regulate body
temperature.

Source: [Link]
 Source: [Link] 69/

Skin Appendages and Derivatives

The skin apendages include cutaneous glands,hair and hair follicles, and nails. Each of these appendages
arises from the epidermis and plays a unique role in maintaining body homeostasis

Cutaneous Glands

The cutaneous glands are all exocrine glands that release their secretions to the skin surface via ducts.

Sebaceous glands

a small gland in the skin which secretes a lubricating oily matter (sebum) into the hair follicles to lubricate
the skin and hair.

Sweat glands

also known as sudoriferous glands are small tubular structures of the skin that produce sweat. Sweat
glands are a type of exocrine gland, which are glands that produce and secrete substances onto an
epithelial surface by way of a duct.
 Source: [Link]

Hair
Hair is a derivative of the epidermis and consists of two distinct parts: the follicle and
the hair shaft. The follicle is the essential unit for the generation of hair. The hair shaft
includes cortex and cuticle cells, and a medulla for some types of hairs. If you look
carefully at the structure of the hair
follicle, you will notice that it is slightly slanted (Small bands of smooth muscle cells—
arrector pili “raiser of hair”)— connect each side of the hair follicle to the dermal
tissue. When these muscles contract (as when we are cold or frightened), the hair is
pulled upright,
dimpling the skin surface with “goosebumps.”

Source:[Link]
and-physiology-of-hair

Nail
A nail is a scale-like modification of the epidermis
that corresponds to the hoof or claw of other animals. Each nail has a free edge, a body
(visible attached portion), and a root (embedded in the skin). Folds of skin overlap the
borders of the nail called nail folds. The edge of the thick proximal nail fold is commonly
called the cuticle. The stratum basale of the epidermis extends beneath the nail as the
nail bed. Its thickened proximal area, called the nail matrix, is responsible for nail growth.
As the model produces nail cells, they become heavily keratinized and die. Thus, nails, like
hairs, are mostly nonliving material. Nails are transparent and nearly colorless, but they
look pink because of the abundant blood supply in the underlying dermis. The exception
to this is the
region over the thickened nail matrix that appears
as a white crescent and is called the lunule.

Source: [Link]
 Activity 7
The SKIN
Name: Date:
Section: Score:

1. Review what you’ve learned about the skin by labeling correctly the figure below. Use the
pencil to label

Source: [Link]

2. Fill-in
1. The most widely distributed type of sweat gland is the Eccrine new type of gland.
2. Epidermis is the most superficial layer in the skin.
3. The hypodermis is mostly areolar and Adipose tissue.
4. Fingerprint ridges are formed as a result of the orderly arrangement of dermal Papillae.
5. Strong shampoo tends to remove sebum from the hair and scalp, making it dry and
easilydamaged.
6. Blood vessels that supply the epidermis are found in the Reticular region of the dermis.
7. The dermis is composed mainly of Protein fibers, with a few elastic fibers.
8. Sabeceous glands produce sebum
9. Cells are pushed into stratum spinosum from stratum basale
10. Physiologists believe that some sweat glands produce aromatic, organic molecules called
pheromones that may serve as sex attractants. This type of sweat glands most likely to
produce pheromones is Eccrine.

3. Fill in the blank spaces

Characteristic Epidermis Dermis

Tissue Type Squamous epithelium that is Layers of Connective Tissue

stratified and keratinized
Presence of Blood Vessels Does not contain blood vessels House blood vessels, nerve
endings, hair follicles, and glands.
Relative Thickness The epidermis is approximately Thicker (Averages 1 to 4 mm)
0.05 mm thick.
Permeability Prevents the body from losing too Extremely low permeability to
much water and from having water and most other substances
outside chemicals enter it.
Relative Strength Collagen supports the epidermis is The Thickest layer of the skin.
lending it