Integumentary System Overview

Integumentary System Overview

• The integumentary system relates to the outer surface of a structure, such as the skin.
• It's comprised of the skin and underlying connective tissues.
• Skin acts as a cutaneous membrane, forming a sheet-like covering.
• A layer of fat (hypodermis/subcutaneous tissue) lies beneath the skin, nourishing and cushioning the body, connecting skin to deeper tissues.

Course Objectives

• Students will learn and demonstrate technical skills in embalming and restorative art.
• These skills are crucial for preparing and handling human remains.

Lecture Objectives

• Students will identify and explain the major layers and accessory structures of the integumentary system.

Functions of the Integument

• Protection: First line of defense against microbes and other harmful substances.
• Temperature regulation: Sweat secretion, blood vessel dilation/constriction help control body temperature.
• Excretion: Sweat removes waste products from the body via evaporation.
• Vitamin D synthesis: Produced through exposure to UV light.
• Sense organ activity: Nerve endings convey signals to the brain from external stimuli.

Layers of the Skin - Epidermis

• The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin.
• It consists of 5 tightly packed layers.
• The outermost layer is called the stratum corneum.
• The dermis meets the epidermis at the dermal-epidermal junction.

Layers of the Skin - Dermis

• The dermis is a deeper layer of the skin.
• Primarily composed of connective tissue, containing blood vessels.
• Strong collagen and other fibers make skin elastic and strong.
• The dermis has two main layers.

Sublayers of Epidermis and Dermis

• The diagram shows the different layers of the epidermis and dermis, along with associated structures (e.g., sweat glands, nerves, capillaries).

Hair

• Hair originates in follicles, small pockets in the skin.
• The follicles extend into the dermis.
• Hairless regions (palms, soles) exist.
• Arrector pili are tiny, involuntary muscles around hair follicles.

Nails

• Nails grow from the epidermis.
• The visible part is the nail body.
• The hidden part is the nail root.
• The lunula is the crescent-shaped area near the nail root.

Glands

• Glands: Secretory organs or structures that produce secretions.
• Sudoriferous glands: Sweat glands, located in the dermis.
  • Eccrine glands are distributed widely across the body.
  • Apocrine glands are found in specific areas (axilla, genitals.)
• Sebaceous glands: Sebum glands, attached to hair follicles, lubricate hair and skin.