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COMPONENTS
FIGURE 5.
- Skin. A. The epidermis (meaning upon the skin) is a superficial layer of stratified, squamous epithelial tissue.
B. The dermis (meaning skin) is a deeper layer of connective tissue.
- Hair and associated smooth muscle.
- Glands of the skin
- Nails
HYPODERMIS
- The hypodermis (subcutaneous tissue, superficial fascia) is a layer of tissue deep to the dermis. A. The hypodermis connects the skin to deeper structures (e.g., muscle or bone).
B. The hypodermis is loose connective tissue containing fat deposits (about half of the body's fat stores).
C. The hypodermis is the site of subcutaneous injections.
- The hypodermis is not technically a part of the skin.
SKIN
Dermis
- The dermis is divided into two layers. The dermis is the site of the TB and other skin tests.
FIGURE 5.
- Reticular layer. A. The reticular layer is dense, irregular connective tissue. It is the main layer of the dermis. The reticular layer is responsible for the strength of the skin and the ability of the skin to stretch.
B. The reticular layer is a fiber network (reticulum) that connects the papillary layer to the hypodermis.
Rupture of the fibers due to overstretching (e.g., pregnancy) produces lines called striae or stretch marks.
Cleavage or tension lines are produced in the skin because of the collagen and elastin fiber orientation.
FIGURE 5.
) Would it be best for surgical incisions to run parallel to cleavage lines or cut across them? Explain.
- Papillary layer. A. The papillary layer is loose connective tissue. It has projections called papillae (meaning nipple) that extend toward the epidermis. In the digits, palms, and soles of the feet the papillae are arranged in ridges that produce fingerprints and footprints.
B. The papillary layer contains blood vessels (blood supply to the epidermis) and sensory receptors.
Epidermis
- The epidermis has several layers or strata of cells.
- The deepest layer produces the more superficial layers which are altered and eventually consists of dead cells that resist abrasion and water loss. This process is called keratinization.
- Analogy: Human life is a continuous process, but it can be divided into stages: newborn, infant, child, teenager, and adult. The epidermis is also continuous, but can be divided into strata.
FIGURE 5.
Stratum granulosum
- The stratum granulosum contains large granules of the protein keratohyalin. Lamellar bodies release lipids to the outside of the cells. A hard protein envelope forms on the inside of the plasma membrane.
- The cells are dying or dead.
Stratum lucidum
- In the stratum lucidum (= clear) the keratohyalin granules have dispersed and this layer appears clear. Cells are dead.
- The stratum lucidum is absent from most skin.
Stratum corneum
- The stratum corneum consists of several layers of dead squamous epithelial cells. The cells are filled with keratin (a mixture of keratin fibers and keratohyalin), held together by desmosomes, strengthened by a hard protein envelope, and surrounded by lipids.
- Keratin and the protein envelope makes the cells hard and the lipids prevent water loss.
) Scopolamine is a drug used to prevent motion sickness. One method of administering scopolamine is in a skin patch that is attached behind the ear. What properties must scopolamine have in order to diffuse through the skin?
- Eventually the dead cells are sloughed or desquamate. In response to friction, the stratum corneum thickens (more layers of cells) to form a callus or corn.
Nucleus
Keratohyalin granules Lamellar body
Protein envelope forms
Lamellar body releases lipids
Keratin Lipids
Protein envelope
Thick and Thin Skin
- Thick skin has all five strata and the stratum corneum has many layers of cells. Found in the digits, palms, and soles of the feet.
- Thin skin is missing the stratum lucidum and has fewer layers of cells per strata. It is more flexible than thick skin. Only thin skin contains hair.
Skin Color
FIGURE 5.
- Melanin is the term used to describe a group of pigment molecules. A. Melanin is produced by melanocytes and packaged into vesicles called melanosomes.
B. Keratinocytes adjacent to the melanocyte ingest the cell processes of melanocytes containing the melanosomes. Thus, keratinocytes have melanosomes, but do not produce them.
- Most melanin pigments are brown to black in color, but some are yellowish or reddish. A. Melanin functions to protect cells from ultraviolet (UV) light.
B. The amount of melanin in the skin can be increased by exposure to UV light and by certain hormones (MSH and ACTH).
C. The amount of melanin in the skin is genetically determined. Because the number of melanocytes in the skin is the same for different races, it is the amount and kind of melanin that is responsible for the color of the skin of different races.
- Carotene is a yellow plant pigment ingested as a source of vitamin A. Carotene accumulates in the lipids of the stratum corneum.
- Blood. A. Decreased oxygen causes a blue color called cyanosis.
B. Increased blood flow causes a red color, as in blushing, anger, fever, overheating, and the inflammatory response.
C. Decreased blood flow causes the skin to appear pale, as in shock, cold, and death.
) Practice Problems A. Explain the difference in skin color between the anterior and posterior surfaces of the forearm.
B. The hair consists of an inner medulla (soft keratin similar to keratin in skin), an outer cortex (hard keratin that makes the hair tougher than the epidermis), and the cuticle (a single layer of overlapping cells that attach to the hair follicle wall).
- Structure of a hair follicle. A. The dermal root sheath is surrounding dermal connective tissue.
B. The epithelial root sheath , which is between the dermal root sheath and the hair, has two parts.
The external epithelial root sheath is an extension of the skin epidermis into the dermis.
The internal epithelial root sheath is produced by the matrix,
C. The papilla in the hair bulb contains blood vessels and nerves.
) Why is it important for the papilla to have blood vessels?
Hair Growth
- Hair grows from the matrix, not from the tip of the hair.
- For scalp hair, there is a growth stage (approximately 3 years) followed by a resting stage (approximately 1-2 years). When the next growth period begins a new hair is formed and the old hair falls out.
- In some people, the hair falls out and is replaced by vellus hair. In addition, hair follicles stop functioning and are lost. The result is baldness. Genetic factors and testosterone are involved in causing baldness.
Hair Color
- Melanocytes in the matrix transfer melanin to the hair cells as they are formed. This is the same process as occurs in the skin.
- The amounts and types of melanin determine hair color. A. Blonde hair has little black-brown melanin. Jet black hair has the most.
B. Red hair is caused by varying amounts of a red type of melanin.
C. A white hair is hair without melanin. Gray hair is a mixture of unfaded, faded, and white hairs.
) In the movies it is not uncommon to see the hair of a person who has been very frightened turn white in a short period of time. Explain why you believe or disbelieve this.
Muscles
- Arrector pili are smooth muscles cells that attached to the hair follicle and the papillary layer of the dermis.
- Contraction of the arrector pili muscles causes the hair to "stand on end" and produces "goose flesh" or "goose bumps."
) Why would it be advantageous for hair to "stand on end"? (Hint: think of fur).
Glands
FIGURE 5.
- Sebaceous glands. A. Sebaceous glands produce sebum , a white lipid that oils the hair and the skin surface, thus preventing drying.
B. Sebaceous glands usually open into a hair follicle.
C. Acne.
At puberty, increased levels of the hormone testosterone cause increased sebum production.
The epidermis of the hair follicle produces many cells.
The sebum and cells plug the hair follicle.
Bacteria grow and a pimple results.
) Why does the pimple get red?
C. The nail rest on the nail bed , the proximal part of which is the nail matrix where the nail is formed. The lunula is the part of the nail matrix that can be seen through the nail.
D. The eponychium (cuticle) is skin that grows onto the base of the nail, and the hyponychium is skin is skin beneath the free edge of the nail.
- The nail grows from the base of the nail (nail matrix), not the tip of the nail. Nails grow continuously (unlike hair).
) In the movies, dead people who have been buried and then dug up are sometime shown to have very long nails. Explain why you believe or disbelieve this.
FUNCTIONS OF THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
Protection
- Physical barrier. A. Prevents the entry of microorganisms and other harmful substances. Loss of the skin, such as in burns, allows microorganisms easy access. Burn patients are kept under aseptic conditions and given antibiotics.
B. Prevents the loss of water (lipids in epidermis). Burn patients are given fluid. The larger the burn area, the greater the fluid replacement.
ASSIGNMENT: Know the difference between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burns and be able
to use the rule of nines (p. 152). Read the Systems Pathology on Burns for your own interest (p. 160).
- Melanin protects against ultraviolet radiation.
- Desquamation of the stratum corneum protects against abrasion.
Sensation
- The epidermis and dermis have sensory receptors.
- Sensations detected include temperature, pressure, light touch, and pain.
Temperature Regulation.
- Sweating cools the body by evaporation.
- Vasodilation increases heat exchange and vasoconstriction decreases heat exchange.
FIGURE 5.
) Why does your nose turn red in the cold?
Vitamin D Production
- Ultraviolet light converts a steroid (a cholesterol derivative) in the skin to vitamin D 3. The vitamin D 3 is transformed in the liver and the kidneys to active vitamin D 3.
- About 15 minutes of summertime, noontime sun exposure on the hands, arms, and face is sufficient to produce adequate amounts of vitamin D 3. During the winter, sunlight exposure may be inadequate.
- Vitamin D 3 can be ingested in fish, liver, and egg yolks.
- Ultraviolet light can be used to convert a fatty substance from plants into vitamin D 2 , which is used to fortify milk and vitamin pills.
- The term vitamin D is used to indicate all of these substances and their derivatives. Vitamin D causes an increase in blood calcium and phosphate levels.
UV light Ergosterol Vitamin D 2 Vitamin D 3 precursor (Plants) (Milk, vitamin pills) (Fish, liver, egg yolk)
UV light
Vitamin D 3 precursor Liver
Kidney
Active vitamin D Calcium and phosphate balance
Excretion
- A very small amount of waste products (such as urea) and salts (sodium chloride) are lost in sweat.
- Note that sweat is NOT an important method of eliminating waste products.
