Skin Flashcards
Components of the integumentary system
Skin Glands Hair Fur Claws Nails
Skin
Made up of specialized epithelial cells (epidermis)
Glands
Secrete substance to lubricate/protect skin
Hair
Protect skin, regulate body temperarure, sense organs, help with evaporation
Fur
Mainly for thermoregulation / protection
Claws
Made up of keratin
Defense, attack, climbing, digging
Nails
Similar to claws, protect fingers
Dermatology
Study of skin, nails, hair/fur and its diseases/treatments
Cutaneous
Relating to/affecting skin
Functions of the skin
Barrier against infection
Protect from injury
Sensation
Helps regulate temperature
2 layers of the skin
Epidermis
Dermis
Epidermis
Outer layer
Water resistant
Most protective
Dermis
Sabaceous glands
Hair follicles
Produce sweat/sebum
Thickest part of epidermis
Foot pads
Nose
Sweat glands in dogs
Footpads
Apocrine sweat glands
Pheromone (territorial marker, warning signals)
Found all over body, emotions (adrenaline)
How do dogs raise their hackles
Adrenaline causes involuntary muscle contraction + hair is raised upwards
Fear, anxiety
Sabaceous glands
Production of serum
Lubricates hair
Enables hair to shed water
Anal sacs
Sebaceous glands (scent marking) End of digestive tract, part of skin (scent marking)
Anatomy of anal sacs
Paired, located on either side of the anus
Between external/internal sphincter muscles
Sebaceous glands within the lining secrete liquid (identification of members within a species)
3 types of hair
Primary (guard hairs) “over coat” protects undercoat
Secondary (undercoat) - warmer, short, fluffy hair
Tactile (whiskers) - help dog/cat sense surroundings
-navigations (sense vibration in air)
How hair grows in follicle
Animals born with full number of follicles
Hair grows within follicle , die/ shed , new hair grows
Cycle of hair growth
Anagen
Catagen
Telogen
Anagen
Hair grows to predetermined length
Catagen
Transitional phase
Telogen
Resting phase- tightly bound to follicle
Factors that influence shedding
Photoperiod (light/dark) Temperature Breed Sex Genetics H
Factors that influence shedding
Photoperiod (light/dark) Temperature Breed Sex Genetics Hormones
Factors that influence shedding
Photoperiod (light/dark) Temperature Breed Sex Genetics Hormones
Factors that influence shedding
Photoperiod (light/dark) Temperature Breed Sex Genetics H
Factors that influence shedding
Photoperiod (light/dark) Temperature Breed Sex Genetics H
Non shedding dogs
Shed less due to very long hair growth cycles
Some have hair that grows into itself (poodles)- brushed out, instead of shed on floor
Shnauzer, Shih Tzu, Terriers, doberman
Double coat
Long course guard hairs with soft/fine undercoat
Insulates/ protects
Shedding: patchy/moth eaten
Herding (collies), working (great Pyrenees, Bernese mountain dog)
Claw
Curved, pointed nail
Attached to P3
Claw germinates from, continues to grow
Reason need to remove p3 for declaw (or claw will grow back)
Polydactyly
Many toes
Number : 5 on front, 4 on back
Cats with dark points
Temperature dependent color
Cooler cats= darker points
Tortoiseshell/calico cats
Almost always female
If male, almost always sterile
