Integumentary System: This is the system of the body that deals with the skin, and the structures connected to it.
Function:
Above is a picture of the three layers of skin, and some important structures.
Epidermis:
Other Structures of the Skin:
Hair:
Nails:
Sweat Glands:
Sebaceous Glands:
Photo of Skin:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=cross+section+of+skin+labeled&um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=666&tbm=isch&tbnid=fMBXhj-fxJjRQM:&imgrefurl=http://wikidoc.org/index.php/Dermis&docid=apyyzulsQJhwpM&imgurl=http://wikidoc.org/images/3/34/Skin.jpg&w=396&h=407&ei=f810UPa2MJSk8ATEvoGgCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=764&vpy=291&dur=4446&hovh=228&hovw=221&tx=140&ty=92&sig=114981302416710996734&page=1&tbnh=156&tbnw=150&&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0,i:95
Function:
- Protection: The skin covers our whole body, and therefore provided protection for our internal structures from our external environment.
- Synthesis of Vitamin D: If the skin is exposed to UV light it will create Vitamin D. The body (liver and kidney) turn the Vitamin D into calcitriol. This helps regulate calcium and phosphorous production.
- Sensory Reception: There are specialized nerves in our skin. These nerves receive messages, and send them to the brain. (Messages can be touch, pressure, pain, and or temperature)
- Temperature Regulation: As the body temperature increases the sweat glands begin to produce sweat. This sweating leads to evaporative cooling, which in result regulates the body.
Above is a picture of the three layers of skin, and some important structures.
Epidermis:
- Outer layer and is thin
- This section is divided into 2 layers.
- Stratum Germinativum ( produces cells for the epidermis)
- Stratum Corneum ( protects body from water loss and gain, this is what we see).
- Middle layer of the skin
- Contains elastic fibers, which help make skin flexible
- Location of sensory nerves
- Bottom layer
- Fatty layer ( fat used for energy storage, insulation, protection, can result in obesity)
Other Structures of the Skin:
Hair:
- Comes from follicles in the dermis
- there are smooth muscles attached to the hair root (cause of goosebumps)
Nails:
- Grow from nail root within the skin
- Cuticle covers the nail root
Sweat Glands:
- Found in all regions of the skin
- Needed for evaporative cooling
Sebaceous Glands:
- Release oil into the hair follicle
- Used for waterproofing
Photo of Skin:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=cross+section+of+skin+labeled&um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=666&tbm=isch&tbnid=fMBXhj-fxJjRQM:&imgrefurl=http://wikidoc.org/index.php/Dermis&docid=apyyzulsQJhwpM&imgurl=http://wikidoc.org/images/3/34/Skin.jpg&w=396&h=407&ei=f810UPa2MJSk8ATEvoGgCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=764&vpy=291&dur=4446&hovh=228&hovw=221&tx=140&ty=92&sig=114981302416710996734&page=1&tbnh=156&tbnw=150&&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0,i:95