The Integumentary System Flashcards
What is the integumentary system?
It protects the body from damage such as water loss or abrasions on the outside. The system is made up of the skin appendages.
What are the three layers that that create the skin?
Epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous layer.
What is the epidermis?
It’s a waterproof, outer layer which keeps pathogens out of the body. It is elastic and gives the skin its colour.
What is the dermis?
Middle layer which contains hair follicles, nerves, blood vessels and glands to help regulate the body temperature.
What is the subcutaneous layer?
It’s made of connective tissue and has a high amount of fat which provides insulation and shape.
What are the 3 skin glands?
Sudoriferous, sebaceous, ceruminous.
What does the sudoriferous do?
Secretes sweat.
What does the sebaceous do?
Secretes sebum which keeps hair and skin lubricated.
What does the ceruminous do?
Specialised sudorfierous glands which secrete ear wax.
How are nails formed?
A nail matrix forms on top of the dermis. The root of the nail grows from a thick layer of matrix.
How are claws and hooves made?
They are made from a section of the dermis which is covered in a layer of keratinised epithelium .
What is hair made from?
Keratin.
What is downy hair?
Dense, fine, soft hairs which lie close to the skin making up the undercoat. It’s good for insulation.
What is guard hair?
Coarser, thicker, longer hairs make up the top coat. Help prevent injuries to the skin and influences the animals appearance. Each guard is surrounded by 6-12 downy hairs.
Difference between horns and antlers?
Hollow horns are made from a cone of keratin which surrounds a mass of bone. ( rhino horns are different because they are made from keratinised cells without core of bone. Antlers are bone , young antlers have velvety skin which gets rubbed off then the bone turns into a compact bone tissue as they mature.
