The Integumentary System

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Main Anatomy Index | The respiratory system

Last updated 30 March 2006

This page was contributed by Ross Keen.

The Integumentary System

 

The Skin

  1. The epidermis;
  2. And the dermis.

 

Epidermal Derivatives of Skin

  1. Hair and hair follicles;
  2. Sweat glands;
  3. Sebaceous glands;
  4. Nails;
  5. And mammary glands.

 

Functions of the Integumentary System

  1. A barrier function, protects against physical, biological and chemical agents;
  2. A homeostatic function, to preserve the internal environment by regulating body temperature;
  3. A sensory function, information about the environment, informative and protective;
  4. A secretory function;
  5. And an excretory function, via sweat glands.
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Types of Skin

  1. Thick skin, which is hairless and on the palms and the soles of the feet;
  2. And thin skin, which is hairy.

 

The Epidermis

 

Stratum Basale

 

Stratum Spinosum

 

Stratum Granulosum

 

Stratum Lucidum

 

Stratum Corneum

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Cells of the Epidermis

The Keratinocyte

  1. The production of keratin;
  2. And creation of an extracellular water barrier.

 

The Melanocyte

 

The Langerhan's Cell

 

The Merkel Cell

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The Dermis

 

The Papillary Layer of the Dermis

 

The Reticular Layer of the Dermis

 

The Hypodermis

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Nerve Supply of the Skin.

 

Pacinian Corpuscles

 

Meissner's Corpuscles

 

Ruffini Endings

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Skin Appendages

  1. Hair follicles and hair;
  2. Sebaceous glands and their product sebum;
  3. Eccrine sweat glands and their product sweat;
  4. Apocrine sweat glands and their product serous secretion.

 

Hair

 

Sebaceous Glands

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Sweat Glands

  1. Eccrine sweat glands, all over body except lips and part of external genitalia;
  2. Apocrine sweat glands, only in axilla, areola, nipple of mammary gland, and circumanal region and the external genitalia. The ceruminous glands of ear and glands of Moll of eyelid are also apocrine.

 

Eccrine Sweat Glands

 

Apocrine Sweat Glands

 

Nails

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Michael Tam (c) 1999