Integumentary System Flashcards
Five functions of Integumentary System
- Covers and protects the body
- Helps regulate body temperature
- Eliminates waste
- Gathers information
- Produces Vitamin D
Which layers regulate heat?
Epidermis and Dermis layers
How do the layers regulate heat?
- Blood vessels run throughout the skin. When you are too warm, they enlarge and the amount of blood that flows through them increases, allowing heat to escape.
- Sweat glands produce perspiration which evaporates from your skin, cooling it.
Which layers eliminate waste?
Epidermis and Dermis layers
How do the layers eliminate waste?
Perspiration contains dissolved waste materials from cellular processes.
Which layers gather information?
Dermis layer
How do the layers gather information?
Nerves run throughout the skin to provide the brain with information such as pressure, pain, and temperature.
Which layers produce Vitamin D?
Epidermis
What is the significance of Vitamin D?
Good for bones, and allows cells in your digestive system to absorb calcium from food
How much sunlight do we need?
Only a few minutes of sunlight produces a day’s supply of vitamin D
What is melanin?
A pigment, the colored substance that gives skin its color.
Where does melanin come from?
Exposure to sunlight stimulates the production of melanin in the skin
What is the purpose of melanin?
Protects the skin from burning
Which layer covers and protects the body?
Epidermis
Which layer is thinnest?
Epidermis
