Integumentary System Flashcards
Components of Skin, thermoregulation
Function of the skin
The skin has many functions such as:
thermoregulation
pathogen protection
protection against UV rays
energy storage
vitamin D production
mechanical damage protection
Epidermis
The top layer of the skin which includes the: stratum cornneum and acidic mantle
Stratum Corneum
Made up of 25-30 sub layers of flattened cells that provide protection to the skin and body. These cells are constantly exfoliated by friction and replaced by new cells.
Keratinised Stratum Corneum
The stratum corneum are cells are rich in the structural protein keratin to provide protective properties
Stratum Basale
Cells found in the deepest epidermis layer that become rounder, flatter and harder before moving to the surface (stratum corneum) to replace the stratum corneum layer
Acidic Mantle
Also found on the surface of the skin, and is slightly acidic as it’s the body’s first line of defence against pathogens
Dermis
The tough, elastic middle layer of the skin, made up of interlaced (white) fibrous tissue and (yellow) elastic fibres
Components of Dermis
blood vessels
lymphatic vessels
sweat glands and ducts
sebaceous glands
Hair follicle and strands
hair erector muscles
Hair follicle
A tube like structure (pore) which surrounds the root and strand of hair to provide a pathway for the hair shaft (strand) to grow through.
The white bulb at the base of hair strands is a protein called keratin
Hair erector muscle
The muscle contracts (under the influence of the connected nerve) to cause hairs to erect (stand on end)
Sebaceous (oil) Gland
A gland which connects to the hair follicle to release sebum to the surface of the skin
Sebum
An oily substance produced by the sebaceous gland that:
protects the skin from drying out
lubricates to reduce friction
makes the skin more impervious to moisture
Melanin
A natural dark skin pigment that caused the hair, eyes & skin to become pigmented (appear darker). The amount of you have depends on:
genetics
previous ancestral exposure to UV
Role of melanin
Absorbs harmful UV rays to protect the skin against cellular damage from UV light exposure. It makes skin appeared ‘tanned’ during the summer a the sun causes melanin to move to the surface of the skin. Eventually fades away as sun is less prevalent during winter.
Perspiration
The process of sweating, involving:
sweat glands
duct of sweat glands
sweat pore