Integumantary System

SKIN
Functions
 Acts as a barrier protecting the body
against injury and dehydration
 Its tactile sense organs receive stimuli
from the environment
 Thermoregulation and water balance
2 Principal Layers
 Epidermis
 Surface epithelium
 Dermis or corium
 Underlying connective tissue layer
Epidermis
 Stratified squamous epithelium
 Multiple layers of keratinocytes
 5 zones
 Stratum basale (Stratum germinativum)
 Stratum spinosum (Malpighian layer)
 Stratum granulosum
 Stratum lucidum
 Stratum corneum
Stratum Basale
(Stratum Germinativum)
 Single layer of cells supported by a basal lamina

 Cells are cuboidal or low columnar, nucleus is
large and cytoplasm basophilic
 Intermediate keratin filaments
 Contain stem cells, its proliferation is responsible
for the continuous renewal of the epithelium
 Mitotic figures are seen
 Human epidermis renewed every 15-30 days
Stratum Spinosusm
(Malpighian Layer)
 Cuboidal or slightly flattened cells
 Prominent feature is the presence in the
cytoplasm of numerous bundles of keratin
 Seen on light microscope and are called
tonofilaments
 End and insert at desmosomes
 Therefore play an important role in

maintaining cell cohesion
Stratum Granulosum
 Consists of 3-5 layers of flattened
polygonal cells
 Distinguishing features
 Cytoplasm contain large granules with
irregular shape called keratohyaline granules
Stratum Lucidum
 A layer of thin, translucent, lightly stained,
refractile cells
 Layer is apparent in thick skin like the skin of
palms and soles
 Not identifiable in the thinner skin
 Consists of 4-6 rows of very flat cells
 Nuclei begin to degenerate in the outer row
of the stratum granulosum; nuclei are rarely
seen in the stratum lucidum
Stratum Corneum
 Consists of 15-20 layers of flattened
non-nucleated heavily keratinized cells
(horny cells)
 Cytoplasm is filled with keratin filaments
embedded in a matrix
 Surface cells are continuously shed
(desquamated), referred to as stratum
disjunctum
Other Cells
 Melanocytes
 Langerhans cells
 Merkel cells
Melanocytes
 Specialized cells in the basal layer or in
the underlying dermis
 Produce the pigment melanin,
responsible for the pigmentation of the
skin and hair
 Melanin is synthesized in the
melanocytes by the action of tyrosinase
enzyme acting on tyrosine
Langerhans Cells
 Star-shaped cells found mainly in the
stratum spinosum
 Its most reliable identifying feature
histologically is the presence of
cytoplasmic granules called Birbeck
granules
 Function
 Antigen trapping and antigen presentation
Merkel Cells
 Cells resemble keratinocytes but have a
small dense granules in the cytoplasm
 Few cells in the basal layer
 Present in areas like the fingertips
 Special role for sensory perception
Dermis
(Corium)
 Tough leathery layer of connective
tissue that supports the epidermis and
binds it to the subcutaneous tissue
 2 layers are identified
 Superficial papillary layer (collagen type III)
 Deeper reticular layer (collagen type I)
Hypodermis
 Subcutaneous layer
 Loose CT which anchors the skin to the
underlying fascia or bone
 Contains fat cells
Appendages of the Skin
 Hairs
 Sebaceous gland
 Sweat gland
 Nails
Hairs
 Formed from invaginations of the
epidermis called hair follicles
 Hair and its hair follicle is always
inclined at a certain angle to the surface
of epithelium
 Arrector pili muscle inserts into the CT
sheath of hair follicle slightly above its
midpoint
Hair Follicle
Structure
 Hair bulb
 Hair papilla
 Hair matrix (epithelial cells)
 Glassy layer
 External root sheath
 Internal root sheath
Hairs
Absent in the
 Palms and soles
 Lateral surfaces of feet
 Glans penis, inner surface of prepuce
 Clitoris
 Labia minora and inner surfaces of
labia majora
Sebaceous Glands
 Embedded in the dermis
 Appendages of the hair follicle located above
the insertion of the arrector pili muscle
 Ducts open into the upper 3rd of the follicular
canal
 Lobular structures consisting of elongated
acini that open into a short duct
 Holocrine gland
 Secretion is called sebum
Sweat Glands
2 Types
 Eccrine sweat glands
 Coiled tubular glands located deep in the
dermis
 Slender duct ascends to the epidermis and
opens as a sweat pore on surface of skin
 Widely distributed throughout the
integument
Sweat Glands
2 Types
 Apocrine sweat glands
 Found in axilla, mons pubis, circumanal
region
 Larger than eccrine gland
 Located in the dermis and duct opens into the

canal of hair follicle
Nails
 Plates of closely compacted hard

keratin
 Formed by keratinization of epithelial
cells in a nail matrix
Nails
Parts
 Free edge of nail plate, body, root which
is the proximal end of nail plate covered
by skin fold
 Lanula
 Nail bed
 Nail matrix
 Eponychium

Integumantary System

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Integumantary System

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SKIN

 Single layer of cells supported by a basal lamina

 Therefore play an important role in

 Located in the dermis and duct opens into the

 Plates of closely compacted hard

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