Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges pain receptors, which alert the nervous

College of Health Sciences

SY 2022-2023
system to possible damage.
• Microbe damage

Chapter 4 - HOW ACCOMPLISHED: Has an unbroken

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM: surface and “acid mantle” (skin

A Review Material secretions are acidic and thus inhibit
microbes, such as bacteria). Phagocytes
OUTLINE
ingest foreign substances and
4.1 The Integumentary System
4.2 Functions of the Integumentary System pathogens, preventing them from
4.3 Structure of the Skin penetrating into deeper body tissues.
4.4 Skin Color
4.5 Appendages of the Skin • Ultraviolet (UV) radiation (damaging
4.6 Homeostatic Imbalances of Skin effects of sunlight or tanning beds)
4.7 Summary
- HOW ACCOMPLISHED: Melanin
produced by melanocytes offers
Chapter 4: Integumentary System
protection from UV damage.
4.1 THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM • Thermal (heat or cold) damage
- HOW ACCOMPLISHED: Contains
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
heat/cold/pain receptors.
• The integumentary system is the external • Desiccation (drying out)
covering of the body, or the skin, - HOW ACCOMPLISHED: Contains a
including hair and fingernails. water-resistant glycolipid and keratin.
• It waterproofs the body and cushions
2. SENSATION
and protects the deeper tissues from
injury. The integumentary system has sensory receptors

• It consists of the skin and accessory that can detect heat, cold, touch, pressure,

structures, such as hair, glands, and nails. and pain.

3. VITAMIN D PRODUCTION
4.2 FUNCTIONS OF THE
When exposed to ultraviolet light, the skin
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
produces a molecule that can be transformed
The integumentary system, performs a variety of
functions; most, but not all, of which are protective. into vitamin D, an important regulator of
calcium homeostasis.
1. PROTECTION
It protects deeper tissues from
4. TEMPERATURE REGULATION
• Mechanical damage (bumps) The amount of blood flow beneath the skin’s

- HOW ACCOMPLISHED: Physical barrier surface and the activity of sweat glands in the

contains keratin which toughens cells; fat skin both help regulate body temperature. The

cells to cushion blows; and both pressure skin also aids in body heat loss or heat retention

and pain receptors, which alert the which is controlled by the nervous system.

nervous system to possible damage. How accomplished:

• Chemical damage (acids and bases) - HEAT LOSS: By activating sweat glands

- HOW ACCOMPLISHED: Has relatively and by allowing blood to flush into skin

impermeable keratinized cells; contains

 capillary beds so that heat can radiate FIVE STRATA OF EPIDERMIS
from the skin surface. From the deepest to the most superficial stratum
of the epidermis.
- HEAT RETENTION: By not allowing blood to
flush into skin capillary beds.

5. EXCRETION
Small amounts of waste products are lost
through the skin and in gland secretions. The skin
also aids in the excretion of urea and uric acid
that is contained in perspiration produced by
sweat glands.

4.3 STRUCTURE OF THE SKIN

The skin is composed of two kinds of tissue. The outer
epidermis and the underlying dermis.

1. Stratum Basale
- The deepest cell layer of the epidermis,
which lies closest to the dermis and is
connected to it along a wavy border
that resembles corrugated cardboard.
- It contains the most adequately
nourished of the epidermal cells.
- Stem cells in this layer are constantly
dividing, and millions of new cells are
produced daily; hence its alternate
name, stratum germinativum
- Some newly formed cells in this layer
become part of the more superficial
EPIDERMIS layers.
• Most cells of the epidermis are
keratinocytes, which produce keratin, 2. Stratum Spinosum
the fibrous protein that makes the - Cells contain thick bundles of
epidermis a tough protective layer in a intermediate filaments made of pre-
process called keratinization. keratin.
• Like all other epithelial tissues, the - Cells on the stratum spinosum take on a
epidermis is avascular, that is, it has no flattened appearance and accumulate
blood supply of its own. lipid-filled vesicles called lamellar bodies.
• The epidermis is composed of up to five
3. Stratum Granulosum
layers or strata.
- Cells of the stratum granulosum are flat
and diamond-shaped. Organelles
 deteriorating; cytoplasm is full of
granules. DERMIS
• The dermis is your “hide.”
4. Stratum Lucidum
• It is a strong, stretchy envelope that helps
- It is a thin, clear zone between the
to bind the body together.
stratum granulosum and stratum
• The connective tissue making up the
corneum.
dermis consists of two major regions–the
- It is present in certain areas of the body.
papillary and the reticular areas.
It occurs only where the skin is hairless
• Like the epidermis, the dermis varies in
and extra thick, that is, on the palms of
thickness.
the hands and soles of the feet.
• Both collagen and elastic fibers are
- The cells of this stratum no longer have
found throughout the dermis.
nuclei or organelles, and as a result, the
cells stain more lightly.
TWO MAJOR REGIONS OF THE DERMIS
Which are composed of areolar and dense irregular
5. Stratum Corneum
connective tissue, respectively.
- The most superficial stratum of the
epidermis.
- Cells are dead, flat membranous sacs
filled with keratin. Glycolipids in
extracellular space make skin water-
resistant.
- It is 20-30 cell layers thick, but it accounts
for about three-quarters of the
epidermal thickness.

Definition of Terms
• Keratinocytes (tan), connected by many
desmosomes, form most of the epidermis.
• Melanocytes (gray) make the pigment
melanin. 1. Papillary Layer
• Epidermal Dendritic Cells (blue) are star-
• It is the superficial dermal region. It is
shaped epidermal cells and are protective
immune cells. uneven and has peg-like projections
• Occasional Merkel Cells (purple), each
associated with a nerve ending, act as touch from its superior surface, called dermal
receptors called Merkel discs.
papillae.
• Dandruff is the excessive sloughing of stratum
corneum cells from the surface of the scalp. • Many of the dermal papillae contain
• Callus is a thickened and hardened part of the
skin or soft tissue, especially in an area that has capillary loops, which furnish nutrients to
been subjected to friction.
• Melanin is a pigment that ranges in color from
the epidermis.
yellow to brown to black and is produced by • Others house pain receptors (free nerve
special spider-shaped cells called
melanocytes, found chiefly in endings) and touch receptors.
• the stratum basale. Freckles and moles are
seen where melanin is • The dermal papillae in the palms of the
• concentrated in one spot. The pigment which
hands, soles of the feet, and the tips of
ranges in color from yellow to brown to black
is produced by special spider-shaped cells the digits are arranged in parallel,
called melanocytes, found chiefly in the
stratum basale. Freckles and moles are seen curving ridges that shape the overlying
where melanin is concentrated in one spot.
epidermis into patterns called friction
ridges.
 Three pigments that contribute to skin
2. Reticular Layer
• It is the deepest skin layer. color:
• It contains dense irregular connective • The amount and kind (yellow, reddish
tissue, as well as blood vessels, sweat and brown, or black) of melanin in the
oil glands, and deep pressure receptors epidermis. Skin exposure to sunlight
called lamellar corpuscles. stimulates melanocytes to produce more
• Other cutaneous sensory receptors, melanin pigment, resulting in the tanning
which are actually part of the nervous of the skin. As the melanocytes produce
system, are also located in the skin. melanin pigment, it accumulates in their
• These tiny sensors, which include touch, cytoplasm in membrane-bound granules
pressure, temperature, and pain called melanosomes. People who
receptors, provide us with a great deal of produce a lot of melanin have brown-
information about our external toned skin, whereas people with less
environment. melanin are light-skinned.

Both collagen and elastic fibers are found • The amount of carotene deposited in the

throughout the dermis. stratum corneum and subcutaneous

tissue. (Carotene is an orange-yellow
• COLLAGEN FIBERS
pigment plentiful in carrots and other
- are responsible for the toughness of the
oranges, deep yellow, or leafy green
dermis; they also attract and bind water
vegetables.) In people who eat large
and thus help to keep the skin hydrated.
amounts of carotene-rich foods, the skin
- it is oriented in many different directions
tends to take on a yellow-orange cast.
and can resist stretching.
• The amount of oxygen-rich hemoglobin
- it produces cleavage lines or tension lines
(pigment in red blood cells) in the dermal
in the skin.
blood vessels. In light-skinned people, the
- if the skin is overstretched, the dermis can
crimson color of oxygen-rich hemoglobin
be damaged, leaving lines that are
in the dermal blood supply flushes
visible through the epidermis. These lines
through the transparent cell layers
are called stretch marks.
above and gives the skin a rosy glow.
• ELASTIC FIBERS
- give the skin its elasticity when we are Process of Melanin Transfer from
young.
Melanocytes to Epithelial Cells
REMEMBER: 1. Within melanocytes, the Golgi
As we age, the number of collagen and elastic fibers
apparatuses package melanin into
decreases, and the subcutaneous tissue loses fat. As a
result, the skin loses its elasticity and begins to sag and vesicles called melanosomes.
wrinkle.
2. Melanosomes move into the cell
processes of the melanocytes.
3. Epithelial cells phagocytize the tips of the
4.4 SKIN COLOR
melanocyte cell processes, thereby
Three pigments contribute to skin color: melanin,
acquiring melanosomes. Although all the
carotene, and hemoglobin
epithelial cells of the epidermis can
 contain melanin, only the melanocytes during heart failure and severe breathing
produce it. disorders.

Several Factors That Determine Skin

Color:
1. Pigments in the skin;
2. Blood circulating through the skin; and
3. The thickness of the Stratum Corneum.

Emotion also influences skin color,

and many alterations in skin color
• Skin color variations are determined by
signal certain disease state:
the amount, kind, and distribution of
• Redness, or erythema. Reddened skin
melanin. Although many genes are
may indicate embarrassment (blushing),
possible for skin color, a single mutation
fever, hypertension, inflammation, or
can prevent the production of melanin.
allergy.
For example, albinism.
• Pallor, or blanching. Under certain types
of emotional stress, some people
become pale. Pale skin may also signify
anemia, low blood pressure, or impaired
blood flow into the area.
• Jaundice, or a yellow cast. An abnormal
yellow skin tone usually signifies a liver
disorder in which excess bile pigments
accumulate in the blood, circulate
throughout the body, and become
deposited in body tissues.
• Bruises. The black-and-blue marks of
bruising reveal sites where blood has
4.5 APPENDAGES OF THE SKIN
escaped from the circulation and has
This includes cutaneous glands, hair and hair follicles,
clothed in the tissue spaces. Such clotted and nails. Each of these appendages arises from the
blood masses are called hematomas. An epidermis and plays a unique role in maintaining
body homeostasis.
unusual tendency to bruise may signify a
deficiency of vitamin C in the diet or
hemophilia (bleeder’s disease).
APPENDAGES OF THE SKIN
• The skin appendages are epidermal and
HOMEOSTATIC IMBALANCE
dermal-derived components of the skin
• When hemoglobin is poorly oxygenated,
that include cutaneous glands, hair and
both the blood and the skin of light-
hair follicles, and nails.
skinned people appear blue, a condition
called cyanosis. Cyanosis is common
 substances and fragmented cells.
GLANDS
Sebum is a lubricant that keeps
the skin soft and moist and
CUTANEOUS GLANDS
prevents the hair from becoming
• The cutaneous glands are all exocrine
brittle. Sebum also contains
glands that release their secretions to the
chemicals that kill bacteria, so it is
skin via ducts.
important in preventing bacterial
• They fall into two groups: sebaceous
infection of the skin.
glands and sweat glands.
• As these glands are formed by the cells HOMEOSTATIC IMBALANCE
of the stratum basale, they push into the • When sebaceous gland ducts are
deeper skin regions and ultimately reside blocked by sebum, acne appears on the
almost entirely in the dermis. skin’s surface. Acne is an active infection
of the sebaceous glands. If the
accumulated material oxidizes and
dries, it darkens, forming a blackhead. If
the material does not dry or darken, a
whitehead forms. Acne can be mild or
extremely severe, leading to permanent
scarring.

1. SEBACEOUS GLANDS
- The sebaceous glands, or oil
glands, are found all over the skin,
except on the palms of the hand
and the soles of the feet. • Seborrhea, known as “cradle cap” in
- Their ducts usually empty into a infants, is caused by overactivity of the
hair follicle, but some open sebaceous glands.
directly onto the skin surface.
- The sebaceous glands become
very active when androgens
(male sex hormones) are
produced in increased amounts
(in both sexes) during
adolescence. Thus, the skin tends
to become oilier during this period
of life.
- The product of sebaceous glands,
sebum, is a mixture of oily
2. SWEAT GLANDS its proteins and fats as a source of
nutrients for their growth, it can
- Sweat glands, also called
take on a musky, sometimes
sudoriferous glands, are widely
distributed in the skin. unpleasant odor.

- Their number is staggering—more - Apocrine glands begin to function

during puberty under the
than 2.5 million per person.
influence of androgens.
- There are two types of sweat
glands, eccrine and apocrine. - They play a minimal role in
thermoregulation.
TWO TYPES OF SWEAT GLANDS
1. Eccrine HAIR AND HAIR FOLLICLES
- Sweat glands are simple coiled,
tubular glands that release sweat
by microneme secretion.
- Are far more numerous and are
found all over the body.
- They produce sweat, a clear
secretion that is primarily water
plus some salts (sodium chloride),
vitamin C, traces of metabolic
wastes (ammonia, urea, uric
acid), and lactic acid (a
chemical that accumulates
during vigorous muscle activity). Hair is an important part of our body image.
- They are supplied with nerve Millions of hairs, produced by hair follicles, are
endings that cause them to found all over the body surface except on the
secrete sweat when external palms of the hands, soles of the feet, nipples,
temperature or body and lips. Humans are born with as many hair
temperature is too high. follicles as they will ever have, and hairs are
2. Apocrine among the fastest-growing tissues in the body.
- Are largely confined to the axillary
(armpit) and genital areas of the HAIR
body. • It is a flexible epithelial structure. The part
- They are usually larger than of the hair enclosed in the hair follicle is
eccrine glands, and their ducts called the “root”, and the part projecting
empty into hair follicles. from the surface of the scalp or skin is
- Their secretion contains fatty called the “shaft”.
acids and proteins, as well as all • Hair serves a few minor protective
the substances present in eccrine functions, such as guarding the head
sweat; consequently, it may have against bumps, shielding the eyes (via
a milky or yellowish color. The eyelashes), and helping to keep foreign
secretion is odorless, but when
bacteria that live on the skin use
 particles out of the respiratory tract (via
NAILS
nose hairs).
• Hair may also help to attract sexual
partners, as evidenced by its place in our
body image. Hormones account for the
development of hairy regions—the scalp
and, in the adult, the pubic and axillary
areas. Despite these functions, however,
our body hair has lost much of its
usefulness.

Structure of Hair
- Each hair arises from a hair follicle.
- The medulla is the softer center that is
surrounded by the hair. NAILS
- The cortex is covered by a cuticle, a • A nail is a scale-like modification of the
single layer of overlapping cells that epidermis that corresponds to the hoof or
holds the hair in the hair follicle. claw of other animals.
- The hair papilla is an extension of the • The nail is a thin plate, consisting of layers
dermis that protrudes into the hair bulb. of dead stratum corneum cells that
contain a very hard type of keratin.
HAIR FOLLICLES • Each nail has a free edge, a body (visible
• They are actually compound structures. attached portion), and a root
The inner epithelial root sheath is (embedded in the skin).
composed of epithelial tissue and forms • Nails are transparent and nearly
the hair. The outer fibrous sheath is colorless, but they look pink because of
actually dermal connective tissue. the rich blood supply in the underlying
• This dermal region supplies blood vessels dermis.
to the epidermal portion and reinforces • The exception to this is the region over
it. the thickened nail matrix that appears as
• Its nipple-like hair papilla provides the a white crescent and is called the lunule
blood supply to the matrix in the hair bulb (lunul = crescent).
(the deepest part of the follicle). • Cell production within the nail matrix
• Associated with each hair follicle are causes the nail to grow. Unlike hair, nails
smooth muscle cells called the arrector grow continuously and do not have a
pili. Contraction of the arrector pili resting stage.
causes the hair to become more
Structure of a Nail
perpendicular to the skin’s surface, or to
- The borders of the nail are overlapped by
“stand on end,” and it produces a raised
folds of skin called nail folds.
area of skin called a “goose bump.”
- The edge of the thick proximal nail fold is
commonly called cuticle or
eponychium.
 - The stratum basale of the epidermis • Ringworm
extends beneath the nail as the nail bed. - fungal infection that
- Its thickened proximal area, called the produces patchy scaling
nail matrix, is responsible for nail growth. and inflammatory response
in the skin.
• Eczema and Dermatitis
4.6 HOMEOSTATIC IMBALANCE OF
- Inflammatory conditions of
SKIN
Loss of homeostasis in body cells and organs reveals
the skin caused by allergy,
itself on the skin in thousands of different ways. infection, poor circulation,
or exposure to chemical or
The skin can develop more than 1,000 different
environmental factors.
ailments. The most common skin disorders are
• Psoriasis
infections with pathogens such as bacteria,
- Chronic skin disease
viruses, or fungi. Allergies, which are caused by
characterized by a thicker
abnormally strong immune responses, are also
than normal epidermal
commonly seen in the skin. Less common, but
layer (stratum corneum)
far more damaging to body well-being, are
that sloughs to produce
burns and skin cancers.
large, silvery scales;

Some of the homeostatic imbalances bleeding may occur if the

scales are scraped away.
of the skin are:
BACTERIAL INFECTION:

1. Infections and Allergies • Impetigo

- Small blisters containing
Infections and allergies cause the
pus; easily rupture to form a
following commonly occurring skin
thick, yellowish crust;
disorders:
usually affects children.
• Athlete’s Foot
• Decubitus Ulcers
- an itchy, red, peeling
- Develop in people who are
condition of the skin
bedridden or confined to a
between the toes, resulting
wheelchair, compression
from an infection with the
of tissue and reduced
fungus Tinea pedis.
circulation result in
• Boils and Carbuncles
destruction of the
- boils are caused by
subcutaneous tissue and
inflammation of hair
skin, which later become
follicles and surrounding
infected by bacteria,
tissues, commonly on the
forming ulcers.
dorsal neck.
VIRAL INFECTION:
- carbuncles are clusters of
• Chicken Pox
boils often caused by the
- Skin lesions; usually mild
bacterium Staphylococcus
viral disease contracted
aureus.
through the respiratory
tract.
 • Shingles
- Painful skin lesions that can • FIRST-DEGREE (superficial)
recur when the dormant - In here, only the superficial
virus is activated by epidermis is damaged. The
trauma, stress, or another area becomes red and
illness; caused by the swollen. This is not usually
chicken pox virus after serious and generally heals
childhood infection. in two to three days.
• Cold Sores • SECOND-DEGREE (superficial
- Skin lesions; caused by partial-thickness burns)
herpes simplex I virus; - It involves injury to the
transmitted by oral or epidermis and the
respiratory routes; lesions superficial part of the
recur. dermis. The skin is red,
• Genital Herpes painful, and blistered.
- Genital lesions; caused by Regeneration of the
herpes simplex II virus; epithelium can occur.
transmitted by sexual Ordinarily, no permanent
contact. scars result if care is taken
to prevent infection.
2. Burns
• THIRD-DEGREE (full-thickness
There are few threats to life more serious
burns)
than burns. A burn is tissue damage and - destroy both the epidermis
cell death caused by intense heat,
and the dermis and often
electricity, UV radiation (sunburn), or
extend into the
certain chemicals (such as acids), which subcutaneous tissue,
denature proteins and cause cell death reflecting their
in the affected areas. categorization as full-
thickness burns. Blisters are
Classification of Burns According to
usually present, and the
their Severity (Depth):
burned area appears
blanched (gray-white) or
blackened. In this degree,
regeneration is not
possible, and skin grafting
must be done to cover the
underlying exposed tissue.
• FOURTH-DEGREE (full-thickness
burns with deep-tissue
involvement)
- are also full-thickness burns,
but they extend into
 deeper tissues such as Skin cancer is the single most common
bone, muscle, or tendons. type of cancer in humans. Furthermore,
These burns appear dry there are three most common types of
and leathery, and they skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma,
require surgery and squamous cell carcinoma, and
grafting to cover the malignant melanoma.
exposed tissue. In severe
cases, amputation may be THREE MAIN TYPES OF SKIN
required to save the
CANCER:
patient’s life.
1. Basal Cell Carcinoma
In general, burns are considered
• It is the least malignant and most
critical if any of the following
common skin cancer that begins
conditions exists: with cells in the stratum basale
• Over 30 percent of the body has and extends into the dermis to
second-degree burns. produce an open ulcer.
• Over 10 percent of the body has • It is relatively slow-growing and
third- or fourth-degree burns. fortunately, there is little danger
• There are third- or fourth-degree that this type of cancer will spread
burns of the face, hands, feet, or to other areas of the body since
genitals. metastasis seldom occurs before
• Burns affect the airway. the lesion is noticed.
• Circumferential (around the body • When the lesion is removed
or limb) burns have occurred. through surgical removal or
Facial burns are particularly dangerous radiation therapy, 99 percent of
because of the possibility of burns in respiratory cases are completely cured.
passageways, which can swell and cause
suffocation. Joint injuries are troublesome
because the scar tissue that eventually forms
can severely limit joint mobility, Circumferential
burns can restrict movement, and depending
on location, can interfere with normal
breathing.

3. Skin Cancer 2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Numerous types of neoplasms (tumors) • It arises from the cells of the

arise in the skin. Most skin neoplasms are stratum spinosum. The lesions

benign and do not spread to other body appear as scaly, reddened

areas. However, some skin neoplasms papules (small, rounded swellings)

are malignant or cancerous, and they that gradually form shallow ulcers

tend to invade other body areas. with firm, raised borders.

• This variety of skin cancer appears
most often on the scalp, ears,
 back of the hands, and lower lip, (A) Asymmetry. Any two sides of the
but can appear anywhere on the pigmented spot or mole do not match.
skin. This epidermal cancer is also (B) Border irregularity. The borders of the
believed to be induced by UV lesion are not smooth but exhibit
exposure. indentations.
• If it is caught early and removed (C) Color. The pigmented spot contains
surgically or by radiation therapy, areas of different colors (black, brown,
the chance of a complete cure is tan, and sometimes blue or red).
good. (D) Diameter. The lesion is larger than 6
millimeters (mm) in diameter (the size of
a pencil eraser).
(E) Evolution. One or more of these
characteristics (ABCD) is evolving, or
changing.

3. Malignant Melanoma
• It is a rare form of skin cancer that
arises from melanocytes.
• It accounts for only about 5
percent of skin cancers, but it is
often deadly.
• It can appear as a large, fat,
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM SUMMARY
spreading lesion or as a deeply
The integumentary system consists of the skin, hair, glands,
pigmented nodule. and nails.
4.1 Functions of the Integumentary System
• It arises from accumulated DNA The integumentary system consists of the skin, hair, glands,
and nails. The integumentary system protects us from the
damage in a skin cell and usually external environment. Other functions include sensation,
vitamin D production, temperature regulation, and excretion
appears as a spreading brown-to- of small amounts of waste products.
4.2 Skin
black patch that metastasizes Epidermis
• The epidermis is stratified squamous epithelium
rapidly to surrounding lymph and divided into strata. Strata from deep to superficial
are stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum
blood vessels. granulosum, stratum lucidum, and stratum corneum.
New cells are produced in the stratum basale. The
• It only has 50 percent chance of stratum corneum consists of many layers of dead
squamous cells containing keratin. The most
survival. superficial layers are sloughed.
• Keratinization is the transformation of stratum basale
• The American Cancer Society cells into stratum corneum cells. Structural strength
results from the keratin inside the cells and from
suggests that people who
desmosomes, which hold the cells together. Lipids
sunbathe frequently or attend surrounding the stratum corneum cells help prevent
fluid loss.
tanning parlors examine their skin Dermis
• The dermis is dense connective tissue.
periodically for new moles or • Collagen and elastic fibers provide structural
strength, and the blood vessels of the papillae
pigmented spots and apply the supply the epidermis with nutrients.

ABCDE rule for recognizing

melanoma:
Skin Color • Balding and/or graying occurs with aging. Both are
• Melanocytes produce melanin, which is responsible genetically determined but can also be caused by
for different skin colors. Melanin production is other factors (drugs, emotional stress, and so on).
determined genetically but can be modified by
exposure to ultraviolet light and by hormones.
• Carotene, a plant pigment ingested as a source of
vitamin A, can cause the skin to appear yellowish.
• Increased blood flow produces a red skin color,
whereas decreased blood flow causes a pale skin
color. Decreased blood O2 results in the blue skin
color of cyanosis.
• Scattering of light by collagen produces a bluish
color.
4.3 Subcutaneous Tissue
• The subcutaneous tissue, which is not part of the skin
is a loose connective tissue that attaches the skin to
underlying tissues.
• About half of the body’s lipids are stored in the
subcutaneous tissue.
4.4 Accessory Skin Structures
Hair
• Hairs are columns of dead, keratinized epithelial
cells. Each hair consists of a shaft (above the skin), a
root (below the skin), and a hair bulb (site of hair cell
formation).
• Hairs have a growth phase and a resting phase.
• Contraction of the arrector pili, which are smooth
muscles, causes hair to “stand on end” and
produces a “goose bump.”
Glands
• Sebaceous glands produce sebum, which oils the
hair and the surface of the skin.
• Eccrine sweat glands produce sweat, which cools
the body.
• Apocrine sweat glands produce an organic
secretion that causes body odor when broken
down by bacteria.
Nails
• The nail consists of the nail body and the nail root.
• The nail matrix produces the nail, which is
composed of stratum corneum cells containing
hard keratin.
4.5 Physiology of the Integumentary System
Protection
• The skin reduces water loss, prevents the entry of
microorganisms, and provides protection against
abrasion and ultraviolet light; hair and nails also
perform protective functions.
Sensation
• The skin contains sensory receptors for pain, heat,
cold, and pressure.
Vitamin D Production
• Ultraviolet light stimulates the production of a
precursor molecule in the skin that is modified by the
liver and kidneys into vitamin D.
• Vitamin D increases calcium uptake in the small
intestine.
Temperature Regulation
• Through dilation and constriction of blood vessels,
the skin controls heat loss from the body.
• Evaporation of sweat cools the body. Excretion Skin
glands remove small amounts of waste products but
are not important in excretion.
4.6 Integumentary System as a Diagnostic Aid
• The integumentary system is easily observed and PREPARED BY: GROUP 1 | BSN – 1B
often reflects events occurring in other parts of the
body (e.g., cyanosis, jaundice, rashes)
4.7 Burns
LEADER: Hazel Joy L. Solomo
• Partial-thickness burns damage only the epidermis
(first-degree burn) or the epidermis and the dermis
SECRETARY: Katrina F. Sernal
(second-degree burn).
• Full-thickness burns (third-degree burns) destroy the MEMBER 1: Marjorie D. Dela Cruz
epidermis, the dermis, and usually underlying tissues.
• Fourth-degree burns damage tissue deeper than MEMBER 2: Angelica Sarah A. Castañeda
the subcutaneous tissue, including muscle and
bone. MEMBER 3: Mark Angelo G. Mayao
4.8 Developmental Aspects of Skin and Body Membranes
• The skin is thick, resilient, and well-hydrated in our
youth but loses elasticity and thins as we age. Skin
Mr. Qvimrej Dimabogte
cancer is a major threat to skin exposed to excessive CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR
sunlight.