DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

SANCTA MARIA CATHOLIC COLLEGE

OF NURSING SCIENCES, UZAIRUE

Course Title: Anatomy and Physiology II

Course code: GNS 120
Placement: First Year, Second Semester

LECTURER:Mr. Emmanuel K. N,

1
Anatomy and Physiology of
the Integumentary System

THE SKIN AND IT’S

FUNCTIONS

Nwanama E.K 2
 INTRODUCTION
• Outermost covering of entire human body.

• In humans, it is the largest organ of integumentary system.

• Principal site of interaction with environment.

• Basically consist of two layers which are interdependent.

• Forms a protective barrier – trauma, infection, extremes of temperature,

toxin, prevents fluid loss etc.

• It is also an organ of sensation, prone to injury and diseases.

• Dermatology: it is the branch of medical science that deals with the

diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders.

3
4
5
 Epidermis
• The epidermis, the thin avascular superficial layer of
the skin,
• is made up of an outer dead cornified portion that
serves as a protective barrier and a deeper, living
portion that folds into the dermis.
• Together these layers measure 0.05 to 0.1 mm in
thickness.
• The epidermis regenerates with new cells every 28
days.
• It is composed of keratinized stratified squamous
epithelium.
• It consists of 4 principal types of cells; keratinocytes,
Melanocytes, Langerhans cells, and Markel cell.

6
 Cells of Epidermis
Keratinocytes:
• About 90% of epidermal cells are keratinocytes.
• Keratin is a tough, fibrous protein that helps to protect the skin
and underlying tissues from heat, microbes and chemicals.
Melanocytes:
• About 8% of the epidermal cells are melanocytes and produce
pigment melanin.
• Melanin is the yellow red or brown black pigment that
contribute the skin color and absorb damaging UV light.
• Sunlight and hormones stimulate the melanosome (within the
melanocyte) to increase the production of melanin.
• The wide range of skin color is caused by the amount of
melanin produced; more melanin results in darker skin color.

7
 Cells of Epidermis
Langerhan’s cells:
• They arise from red bone marrow and migrate to
the epidermis and contribute a small fraction of
the epidermal cells.
• They participate in immune responses mounted
against microbes.
Markel cells:
• These are the least numerous epidermal cells.
• They are located in the deepest layer of
epidermis.

8
Cells of Epidermis
 Layers of Epidermis
• Layers (from deep to superficial)
• Stratum basale or germinativum – Corneum
single row of cells attached to
dermis; youngest cells.
• Stratum spinosum – Made up of Lucidum
bundles of protein, resist tension.
Projections of melanocytes and Granulosum
langerhans cells.
• Stratum granulosum – layers of
flattened keratinocytes producing
keratin.
• Stratum lucidum – layer that is
present only on palms,. Fingerprints
and soles.
• Stratum corneum – horny cornified
superficial layer. Effective barrier
against light, heat, bacteria, water
and many chemicals.
Germinativum

1
 DERMIS
• The dermis is the connective
tissue below the epidermis.
• Dermal thickness varies from 1
to 4 mm.
• Blood vessels, nerves, glands
and hair follicle are embedded in
the dermis tissue.
• The dermis is divided into two
layers;
1. an upper thin papillary layer
and
2. a deeper thicker reticular layer.
11
 DERMIS
• The papillary layer is folded into ridge which
extend into the upper epidermal layer.
• These exposed surface ridges form congenital
patterns called fingerprints and footprints.
• The papillary region makes up to the 1/5th
thickness of total layer.
• It consist of areolar connective tissue containing
fine elastic fibers.
• Its surface area is greatly increased by small,
fingerlike structure called as dermal papillae.
 DERMIS
• The reticular region which is attached to the
subcutaneous layer, consists of dense irregular
tissue containing fibroblast, bundles of collagen
and some elastic fibers.
• A few adipose cells, hair follicles, nerves,
sebaceous (oil) glands and sweat glands are
present in the reticular region.
• The combination of collagen and elastic fibers in
the reticular region provides the skin with strength,
extensibility and elasticity.
 SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE
• The subcutaneous tissue lies below the dermis
and is not part of the skin.
• The subcutaneous tissue is often discussed with
the skin because it attaches the skin to underlying
tissues such as muscle and bone.
• The subcutaneous tissues contains loose
connective tissue and fat cells that provide
insulation.
• Note: This layer also stores lipids, regulates
temperature, and provides shock absorption.
14
15
 HAIR
• Grows on most of the body except for the lips,
the palms of the hands, and the soles of the
feet.
• The color of the hair is a result of heredity and
is determined by the type and amount of
melanin in the hair shaft.
• Hair grows approximately 1cm per month.
• On average 100 hairs are lost each day.
• When lost hair is not replaced, baldness results.
• The hair is a threadlike structure formed by a
group of cells that develop within a hair follicle
or socket. Each hair has a shaft that is visible
and a root that is embedded in the follicle.
• A pilomotor muscle is attached to the side of
each follicle. It is stimulated by skin irritants,
emotional arousal, or cold temperatures, and
reacts by contracting.
• This causes goose flesh or goose pimples.

16
 The Hair…..
• At the base of each hair
follicle is a bulb
enclosing a loop of
capillaries.
• It is called the hair
papilla, and provides
nourishment to the hair.
• It is one of the few
living parts of the hair,
and is responsible for
hair growth.

17
The Hair……
• The transparent cuticle covers the
hair shaft like shingles on a roof,
protecting it from the elements
and chemicals, and from losing
moisture.
• The cortex provides most of the
hair’s weight. It contains melanin
which provides color to the hair,
stores oils, provides flexibility and
elasticity, and adds shape to the
hair. When the cuticle is damaged
and exposes the cortex, hair
looks dull and dry.
• The medulla is a inner hollow
core that runs the length of the
shaft.

18
19
 NAILS
• Fingernails and toenails are
hard keratin structures that
protect the ends of the
fingers and toes.
• The nail root, also called the
germinal matrix or nailbed,
begins several millimeters
into the finger and extends to
the edge of the white,
crescent-shaped lunula.
• Nails grow from the matrix.
• The nail matrix is located at
the proximal area of the nail
plate.

20
• The matrix is commonly called the lunula, which is the white
crescent-shaped area visible through the nail plate.
• The nail bed that is under the nail matrix and nail plate is
normally pink and contains blood vessels.
• The cuticle is also called the eponychium. It fuses the nail
plate and the skin of the finger together to form a
waterproof barrier.
• The hyponychium is under the free edge of the nail. It also
creates a waterproof barrier, fusing the skin of the finger to
the underside of the nail plate.
• Fingernails grow at a rate of 0.7 to 0.84 mm per week, with
toenail growth 30% to 50% slower.

• Clinicals;
• Fungal infection of the nail

21
 GLANDS
• Two major types of glands are
associated with the skin;
sebaceous and sweat (apocrine
and eccrine) glands.
sebaceous glands (oil or holocrine
glands):
• secrete sebum, which is emptied
into the hair follicles.
• Sebum prevents the skin and hair
from becoming dry.
• Sebum is somewhat bacteriostatic
and fungistatic and consists mainly
of lipids.
22
 GLANDS
• These glands depends on sex hormones,
particularly testosterone, to regulate sebum
secretion and production.
• Sebum secretion varies according to sex hormone
levels.
• Sebaceous glands are present on all areas of the
skin except the palms and the soles.
• These glands are most abundant on the face,
scalp, upper chest, and back.

23
 GLANDS
Sudoriferous glands: (Sweat gland)
• Exocrine glands, millions located throughout the
skin.
• It has two types:
1. The apocrine sweat glands are located in the
axilla, breast areola, umbilical and anogenital
areas, external auditory canals and eyelids.
2. The eccrine sweat glands are widely distributed
over the body, except in a few areas, such as the
lips.
 Embryology
• The skin develops from two germinative zones:
• Ectoderm (the outermost embryonal layer) which is
represented by the epidermis (the most superficial
skin layer) and

• Mesoderm (the middle embryonal layer)

represented by two-layers, namely the true skin, or
dermis (the middle layer) and the subcutaneous fat,
or hypoderm (the deepest skin layer).
 FUNCTIONS OF INTEGUMENTARY
SYSTEM
• Regulates body temperature
-regulates heat loss.
• Helps regulate fluid balance
- Absorbs water
- Prevents excessive water and electrolyte loss.
- Slow loss up to 600 ml daily by evaporation
• Immune response function
• Vitamin production
-exposure to UV light allows for the conversion of substances necessary for
synthesizing vitamin D. Necessary to prevent osteoporosis, rickets.
• Excretion
-Partial excretion of metabolic waste occurs through the skin.
• Transmits sensation
– nerve receptors allows for feelings of temperature, pain, light touch and
pressure.

26
 Applied Anatomy / Clinical
Skin disorders:
• Alopecia Areata: autoimmune disorder that can lead to
unpredictable hair loss.
• Alopecia Totalis: a skin condition that causes complete hair loss.
• Vitiligo: condition that causes loss of skin color in patches.
• Psoriasis: skin condition that causes thick, scaly areas of skin
(plaques).
• Hidradinitis suppurativa: is a chronic inflammatory condition
that causes painful bumps where the skin rubs together.
• Naevi/moles: A usually non-cancerous disorder of pigment-producing
skin cells commonly called birth marks or moles.
• Onychmycosis: fungal infection of the nail.
• Skin cancer: abnormal growth of cells in the epidermis, caused by
unrepaired DNA damage that triggers mutations.
 Clinical Anatomy
Skin disorders:
• Basal cell carcinoma: type of skin cancer that often develops on areas of skin
exposed to the sun, such as the face.
• Squamous cell carcinoma: cancer caused by overproduction of squamous cells.
• Albinism: rare genetic condition that affects the amount of melanin the body
produces, affects skin, hair and eyes, sometimes causes visual impairment.
• Onycholysis: condition in which the nail plate separates from the skin beneath it.
Injury, fungus, psoriasis.
• Skin burns:
 First degree
 Second degree
 Third degree
 Fourth degree
• Sebaceous cyst: it occurs because of the obstruction (blocking) of the
sebaceous duct.