Chapter 6 : Integumentary System Flashcards
Functions of the Integumentary System
Protective Covering Control Body Temperature Manufactures Vitamin D Major Sense Organ Storage Filter Absorption/Excretion
Protective Covering
Skin provides a protective covering for the body’s underlying tissues from dehydration (retards water loss), injury, and germ invasion
Control Body Temperature
The skin controls body temperature to maintain homeostasis
How it controls body temperature
Acts as an insulator
Shivering
Sweating
Shivering
Contraction of muscles to create heat and pulls skin inward to conserve heat
Sweating
Water loss onto the skin/when evaporates - cools the body
Manufactures Vitamin D
Ultraviolet light from the sun strikes the skin and begins the first steps of vitamin D synthesis
Vitamin D is needed for
Calcium absorption in the small intestine
Calcium is needed for
Muscle contraction, nerve impulses, bone hardening, and proper tooth development
Major Sense Organ
Sense of touch through nerve endings win skin
Storage
The skin has the capability to temporarily store fat, glucose, salts, and water
Filter
The skin filters out harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun
Absorption/Excretion
The skin is very vascular with many capillary beds in the dermis just below the thin epidermis this allows it to absorb certain substances and excrete small amounts of waste through sweat
Epidermis composed of
Stratified squamous epithelial tissue
Stratum Corneum
Outer most layer of epidermis (part we can see)