Chapter 4 Skin And Body Membranes

Question 1

What are the functions of the integumentary system?

Answer 1

The skin: prevents harmful substances, as well as organisms from entering the body, retards water loss by diffusion from deeper tissues and helps regulate body temperature. It houses sensory receptors, synthesizes various chemicals, including vitamin D, contains immune system cells; and excretes small quantities of waste.

Question 2

Describe sebaceous sweat glands

Answer 2

Found all over the skin, except the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The product of the sebaceous glands, sebum, a mixture of oily substances and fragmented cells. Sebum also contains chemicals that kill bacteria so it is important in preventing bacteria present on the skin surface from invading deeper skin regions. There are eccrine and apocrine sweat glands. Eccrine is all over the body for heat regulation. Apocrine for genital odor ad sweat of fatty acids and proteins.

Question 3

Describe hair

Answer 3

Flexible epithelial structure, part if the hair enclosed in the follicle is called the root. He part projecting from the surface of the scalp or skin is called the shaft. The bulk of the hair shaft is dead material and almost entirely protein.