Integumentary System Flashcards
The Integumentary System includes the:
A. Skin aka “cutaneous membrane”: includes epidermis and dermis
B. Accessory Structures- hair, oil & sweat glands, nails and sensory receptors
General Anatomy of the Integumentary System
- A large organ composed of all 4 tissue types
- 22 square feet/ 2 square m.
- 7% of total body weight
- 1-2 mm thick on most of body
- Weight 10 lbs.
Functions of the Integumentary System
- Regulates /maintains body temperature
- Stores blood
- Protects body from external environment
- Detects cutaneous sensations/provides sensory information about the surrounding environment.
- Excretes & absorbs substances
- Synthesizes Vit-D
“CUTANEOUS MEMBRANE” Consists of 2 main sections:
1. Epidermis: • Superficial, thinner section • Contains epithelial tissue • Avascular 2. Dermis * Deep/ thicker section *Contains connective tissue * Vascular Note: Deep to the dermis is the subcutaneous layer or hypodermis which is not a part of the skin. It consists of areolar and adipose tissue; This layer is used for fat storage, an area for blood vessel passage, and an area of pressure-sensing nerve endings.
Epidermis is composed primarily of
stratified squamous epithelium.
4 Principle Cells of the Epidermis
- Keratinocytes -90% of epidermal cells
- Melanocytes - 8% of epidermal cells
- Langerhans cells - a small fraction of epidermal cells
- Merkel cells - the least numerous of epidermal cell
Keratinocytes -90% of epidermal cells
produce the protein keratin, which helps protect the skin and underlying tissue from heat, microbes, and chemicals. Also produce lamellar granules, which act as a waterproof sealant
Melanocytes - 8% of epidermal cells
produce the pigment melanin which contributes to skin color and absorbs damaging ultraviolet (UV) light
Langerhans cells - a small fraction of epidermal cells
(epidermal dendritic cells) are derived from red bone marrow
participate in immune response
Merkel cells - the least numerous of epidermal cell
contact a sensory structure called a tactile (Merkel) disc
detect touch sensations
5 Layers of the Epidermis
• There are 4 or 5 layers of the epidermis, depending upon the degree of friction and mechanical pressure applied to the skin
• From deepest to most superficial the layers of the epidermis are.
deep
1. stratum basale (stratum germinativum)
2. stratum spinosum
3. stratum granulosum
4. stratum lucidum (only in palms and soles)
5. stratum corneum superficial
Stratum Basale aka Stratum Germinativum
- deepest layer; a single row cuboidal or columnar keratinocytes
- contains merkel cells, melanocytes, keratinocytes & stem cells that divide repeatedly to produce keratinocytes
- keratinocytes have a cytoskeleton of “tonofilaments” aka keratin intermediate filaments that form the protein “keratin” in the more superficial layers
- cells attached to each other & to basement membrane by desmosomes & hemi-desmosomes
- when the germinal portion of the epidermis is destroyed, new skin cannot regenerate; a skin graft is required for healing
Stratum Spinosum
- 8 to 10 cell layers held together by desmosomes which provides both strength and flexibility to the skin
- during slide preparation, cells shrink and appear spiny (where attached to other cells by desmosomes.)
- melanin is taken in by keratinocytes (by phagocytosis) from nearby melanocytes
- Langerhans cells and projections of melanocytes are also present
Stratum Granulosum
- 3-5 layers of flat dying cells undergoing “apoptosis” (show nuclear degeneration)
- transition between the deeper, metabolically active strata and the dead cells of the more superficial strata
- keratinocytes contain dark-staining granules of the protein “keratohyalin” that converts tonofilaments (aka keratin intermediate filaments) into keratin
- keratinocytes contain lamellar granules that release lipid which repels water
- Stratum Lucidum
- 4 to 6 layers of clear, flat, dead cells
- present only in the fingers tips, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet
- provides an additional level of “toughness” to thick skin
- Stratum Corneum
• 25 to 30 layers of flat dead cells filled with keratin and surrounded by lipids
– continuously shed
• lamellar granules in this layer make it water-repellent.
• this layer acts as a barrier to light, heat, water, chemicals & bacteria
• constant exposure to friction will cause this layer to increase in depth with the formation of a callus, an abnormal thickening of the epidermis.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and other hormone-like proteins play
a role in epidermal growth.
Keratinization is replacement of
cell contents with the protein keratin; occurs as cells move to the skin surface over 4-6 weeks.
Keratinization
- Stem cells divide to produce keratinocytes
* As keratinocytes are pushed up towards the surface, they fill with keratin
The Dermis
Connective tissue layer composed of Dense Irregular Connective Tissue
Thicker than the epidermis; thickness varies, thickest in soles and palms
Dermis contains:
- Fibres
- Cells
- Hair Follicles, Glands, Nerves & Blood Vessels
Fibre types
a. collagen fibers: allow for strength / resist pull but allow for flexibility; commonly found in parallel bunches
b. elastic fibers: strong but can stretch 150%
Cell types;
a. fibroblasts: secrete the fibers and ground substance of the extracellular matrix
b. macrophages: engulf bacteria and cellular debris by phagocytosis
c. fat cells: store triglycerides