Integumentary System Flashcards
Name the 5 components of the integumentary system
Skin, hair, nails, glands, ducts
What are the 3 layers of the integumentary system?
Epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous/hypodermis (technically not part of skin)
What is B and describe its structure
Epidermis
- Most superficial layer of skin, contains melanocytes (synthesise melanin> pigment that gives skin colour and protection from UV), and keratinocytes (synthesise keratin for waterproof skin). No blood vessels, nerves or hair
What is C and describe its structure
Dermis
- 2nd most superficial layer of skin, contains collagen, connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, sweat glands and ducts, sebaceous (oil) glands, hair, arrector pili muscles
What is F?
Artery
What is G?
Vein
Where is the papillary layer?
Dermis
What is D and what is its structure and function?
Subcutaneous layer/hypodermis (technically not part of skin)
- S = comprised of adipose (fat) tissue, areolar (collagen) tissues
- F = insulation, energy store and shock absorber
Describe 1st degree burns
Only damage epidermis, dry skin, can be tender to severely painful
Describe 2nd degree burns
Damage epidermis and dermis, moist skin because sweat glands in dermis become damaged, severe to extreme pain involve because dermis contains nerve endings
Describe 3rd degree burns
Damage epidermis, dermis, hypodermis, dry skin because sweat glands in dermis are destroyed, muscle and bone may be visible, little to no pain because nerve endings in dermis are already destroyed
Describe the structure of hair
Keratin filaments with a root and shaft, attached to an arrector pili muscle
What is J?
Hair shaft
What is I?
Arrector pili muscle
Describe the 3 functions of hair
- Thermoregulation: Piloerection/relaxing of hairs due to arrector pili muscles- erect/relaxed hairs trap/don’t trap air to prevent/encourage heat loss by radiation > bring temp back to WNL
- Protection: against sunburn (eg hair on head), debris (eyelashes), pathogens (nostril hair)
- Provide sensory info: vestibular system in inner ear detects head movements
Describe the structure of nails
Hard protective keratin plates consisting of the eponychium (cuticle), hyponychium (below cuticle), perionychium (around cuticles)
Describe the function of nails
To help prevent skin of fingers or toes from getting cut/scraped during daily activities, and to enhance sensation and precision of movements
What is E and what is its function?
Sudoriferous/sweat gland (eccrine)
- To excrete sweat, containing salt and water
Compare apocrine vs eccrine glands
- Eccrine: open to skin, smaller, more numerous, thermoregulation
- Apocrine: open to hair, larger, less numerous, acted upon by bacteria > produce odour
What is H and what is its function?
Sebaceous gland (attaches to hair)
Excretes sebum which:
- Keeps hair follicles soft and pliable
- Has bactericidal + fungicidal properties, preventing infection
- Lubricates skin to prevent evaporation of water which can lead to dryness and cracking
Locations of sebaceous glands
Scalp, face, groin, armpit (not on palms and soles)
Duct vs pore
Ducts are pathways for sebum/sweat whereas pores are openings to the skin
What is A?
Sweat pore
Acronym for function of integumentary system
PASTED - protection, absorption, sensation, thermoregulation, excretion, vitamin D
Main function of integumentary system
Protection - intact skin barrier prevents entry of pathogens/chemicals/UV light etc from external environment, preventing disease
Describe how the integumentary system helps with absorption
Helps with absorption of drugs (eg HRT and nicotine patches) and toxic chemicals e.g. Mercury since they shouldn’t go directly into the bloodstream
Describe how the integumentary system helps with sensation
Nerve endings in dermis act as sensory receptors:
- Mechanoreceptors: detect touch and pressure
- Thermoreceptors: detect temperature
- Nociceptors: detect pain
Describe 3 ways in which the integumentary system helps with thermoregulation
- Vasodilation/constriction: blood vessels widen/narrow to increase/decrease blood flow TO SKIN to increase/decrease heat loss by radiation
- Excretion of sweat: evaporation helps to increase heat loss by evaporation
- Piloerection/relaxing of hairs due to arrector pili muscles: erect/relaxed hairs trap/don’t trap air to prevent/encourage heat loss by radiation
All 3 help increase/decrease body temperature back to WNL
Describe how the integumentary system helps with excretion
- main waste products = sebum (oil) and sweat (salt and water)
- oil = excreted by sebaceous glands
- sweat = excreted by sudoriferous glands
Explain how the integumentary system helps with the formation of vitamin D
- Skin exposed to UV light which initiates formation of vit D
- This helps with producing calcium for strong bones etc
5 ways to maintain a healthy integumentary system
- Appropriate hygiene e.g. washing hands regularly to remove potential pathogens from skin
- Eat a well-balanced diet e.g. water helps maintain skin elasticity
- Protect skin e.g. sunscreen to decrease damage to epidermis
- Moisturise skin to maintain skin integrity/prevent dryness and cracking
- Regularly examine skin so any abnormalities are detected earlier = greater chance of successful treatment
Dermat/o
Seb/o
Skin
Sebum (oil)
Cutane/o
Pil/o
Skin
Hair
Derm/o
Trich/o
Skin
Hair
Hidr/o
Therm/o
Sweat
Heat
Ungu/o
Onych/o
Nail
Diaphor/o
Melan/o
Sweat
Black
Dermatology
Study of skin and diseases of the skin
Onycholysis
Loosening/separation of a nail from the nail bed
