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INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN BODY
COURSE CODE: FUO-ANA 101

DR. T.C OMURUKA

[B.SC., M.SC., M.SC., NEBOSH-IGC., PH.D]
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN ANATOMY
FACULTY OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY, OTUOKE, BAYELSA STATE
Specific Objectives
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On the completion of this topic you should be able to;
❑ Describe the integumentary system and its parts

❑ Describe the structure of the skin

❑ State the functions of the skin

Introduction 3

❑ The term integument which means covering.

❑ The integumentary system includes the skin and the skin

Derivatives which are hair, nails, and glands.
Skin 4
❑ The skin is the largest single organ of the body, accounting for
15–20% (approx.5 kg) of total body weight
❑ 1.5–2m2 in surface area
❑ Skin varies in thickness
➢ thick skin covers palm of hands, sole of feet, upper back
➢ thin skin covers rest of the body

Layers of skin
❑ Epidermis:an epithelial layer (stratified squamous epithelium) of
ectodermal origin
❑ Dermis: a layer of dense connective tissue of mesodermal origin
Skin 5
Note:
➢ The junction of dermis and epidermis is irregular, and
projections of the dermis called papillae interdigitate with
evaginations of the epidermis known as epidermal ridges. On
the fingertips, these ridges are visible as fingerprints.

➢ Hypodermis (subcutaneous layer): loose connective tissue layer

below dermis (not part of skin, but associated with it).

➢ The appendages of the skin which are also epidermal

derivatives are nails, hair follicles, sebaceous and sweat glands.
Structure of the skin: Epidermis 6

❑ Is the superficial layer of the skin- Keratinized stratified

squamous epithelium.

❑ Composed predominantly of keratinocytes and melanocytes,

Langerhans cells, and Merkel cells & dead cells packed with
tough keratin protein.
Structure of the skin: Epidermis 7

❑ Avascular- depends on the diffusion of nutrients from

underlying connective tissue.

❑ Constantly being regenerated, carried out by the mitotic

activity of keratinocytes.

❑ Contains sparse nerve endings for touch and pain.

Structure of the skin: Layers of Epidermis 8
❑ From basal lamina to free surface:
1. Stratum germinativum (stratum basale)
2. Stratum spinosum
3. Stratum granulosum
4. Stratum lucidum
5. Stratum corneum
Structure of the skin: Layers of Epidermis 9
❑ Stratum basale: Deepest layer of the epidermis; composed of
cuboidal/columnar shape keratinocytes that migrate toward
skin surface to replace lost/dead cells; also contains
melanocytes and Merkel cells.
❑ Stratum spinosum: Consists of a few layers of polyhedral
keratinocytes (spiny/prickle cells); also contains Langerhans
(dendritic cells).
❑ Note: Stratum spinosum and stratum basale are regarded as
Malpighian layer. And the Keratinocytes are mitotically active.
Thus, nearly all of the mitotic activity in the epidermis occurs here,
and cell division occurs at night.
Structure of the skin: Layers of Epidermis 10
❑ Stratum granulosum: It comprises of 3 to 5 layers of flattened
keratinocytes that contain keratohyalin granules which
produce keratin. Masses of formed keratin comprise the
surface coating of the skin.

❑ Stratum lucidum: A pale or clear homogeneous layer; found

only in thick skin; has keratinocytes that have neither nuclei
nor organelles but contain keratin filaments and eleidin- a
transformation product of keratohyalin.
Structure of the skin: Layers of Epidermis 11
❑ Stratum corneum: Most superficial layer; consist of 15 to 20
layers of flattened, nonnucleated dead “cells” filled with
keratin-

➢these nonviable scalelike/flake structures are called

squames (or horny or cornified cells). The outermost layer
of squames is continuously shed by desquamation.

➢Resists abrasion, penetration, water loss.

Structure of the skin: Dermis 12

❑ The dermis is the layer of the skin underlying the epidermis

& binds to hypodermis.
❑ It is of mesodermal origin and is composed of dense,
irregular connective tissue that contains many type I
collagen fibers and networks of thick elastic fibers.
❑ Well supplied with blood vessels, sweat glands, sebaceous
glands, and nerve endings.
❑ Houses hair follicles and nail roots.
Structure of the skin: Dermis 13
❑ Has two layers-

1. superficial papillary

2. deeper reticular layers.

❑ Note: Although it is divided into a superficial papillary layer

and a deeper, more extensive reticular layer, no distinct
boundary exists between these layers.
Structure of the skin: Dermis 14
❑ Dermal papillary layer:

➢Is uneven and forms dermal ridges (dermal papillae), which

interdigitate with the epidermal down growths (epidermal
ridges);

➢composed of thin, loosely arranged fibers and cells, and

contains capillary loops, lymphatics & neural endings-
Meissner corpuscles (fine-touch receptors).
Structure of the skin: Dermis 15
❑ Dermal reticular layer:

➢Constitutes the major portion of the dermis; composed of

dense bundles of collagen fibers and thick elastic fibers;

➢contain large blood vessels, lymphatics & nerves

fibers/endings like Pacinian corpuscles (pressure receptors)
& Krause end-bulbs (thought to be cold receptors).
Structure of the skin 16
Structure of the skin 17
Functions of skin 18
❑The skin protects the body against injury,
desiccation(dehydration), and infection.
❑Regulates body temperature.

❑Absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is necessary for

synthesis of vitamin D.
❑Sensation: contains receptors for touch, temperature,
and pain stimuli from the external environment.
Glands: Glands of the skin 19
The skin has two main types of glands;

❑Sebaceous gland

❑Sweat glands;

➢Merocrine (Eccrine) sweat glands

➢Apocrine sweat glands

Glands of the skin 20
Sebaceous Glands 21
❑ Are branched acinar (grape shaped) glands having a
lobular appearance.

❑The clustered of several acini of one sebaceous gland

empty into a single short duct which then empties into
the neck (upper portion) of a hair follicle.

❑Embedded in the dermis over most of the body’s surface

except the palms and soles.
➢most abundant on the face, forehead, and scalp.
Sebaceous Glands 22

❑Also, a holocrine gland- holocrine secretion style (release

its degenerating epithelial cells along side its secretion).

❑Secrete/release sebum (an oily secretion).

➢Keeps skin and hair from becoming dry, brittle, and
cracked.
Merocrine Sweat Glands 23
❑These glands are widely distributed in the skin and are
most numerous on the soles of the feet, palm , and face.

❑They are simple coiled tubular glands consisting of a

secretory unit and a single duct- both of which are
coiled, and have stratified cuboidal epithelium.

❑The secretory portion generally secretes watery fluid

that helps cool the body.
Merocrine Sweat Glands 24
❑ The secretory unit embedded in the dermis, is composed of 3
cell types.
➢Dark cells: Line the lumen of the gland and contain many
mucinogen-rich secretory granules.

➢Clear cells: Underlie the dark cells; are rich in mitochondria

and glycogen; secrete a watery, electrolyte-rich material.

➢Myoepithelial cells: Lie scattered in an incomplete layer

beneath the clear cells; contract in response to sympathetic
stimulation and aid in expressing the gland’s secretions into
the duct.
Merocrine Sweat Glands 25

❑The duct leads from the secretory unit through the

superficial portions of the dermis to penetrate an
interpapillary peg of the epidermis and spiral through all
of its layers to deliver sweat to the outside.
Apocrine Sweat Glands 26
❑ Large, specialized sweat glands in various areas of the
body (axilla, areola of the nipple, perianal region, beard
area in men, and the ceruminous (wax) glands of the
external auditory canal).
❑Inactive until puberty.
❑Has Larger lumen than eccrine gland
❑Their large coiled secretory portions consist of simple
cuboidal, and are enveloped by scattered myoepithelial cells
which produce contractions that help discharge secretion into
the duct, & respond to stress and sexual stimulation.
Apocrine Sweat Glands 27
❑They produce sweat that is milky, viscous, odorless and
contains fatty acids.
❑Their secretions are emptied into a nearby hair follicles
at a location superficial to the entry of sebaceous gland
ducts.
❑Bacteria act on these secretions to produce odors that
are somewhat specific to each individual.
➢This may result to Bromhidrosis- disagreeable body
odor.
Hair 28
❑Hair is a slender filament of keratinized cells growing
from a tube in the skin called a hair follicle.
❑A hair follicle is an invagination of the epidermis
extending deep into the dermis.
➢At its deep end, it is continuous with the hair root.

❑The hair shaft is a long, slender filament in the center of

the follicle that extends above the surface of the
epidermis.
Hair 29
❑Itconsists of an inner medulla, cortex, and outer cuticle of
the hair.
❑Hair covers most of the body except soles, palmar &
plantar surfaces, nipples etc.
❑Differences in hairiness across individuals is mainly due to
differences in texture and pigment of hair.
❑The color, size, shape and texture of hairs vary according
to age, genetic makeup, and region of the body.
Zones of hair 30
❑Hair is divided into 3 zones
1. Bulb: A swelling at the base where hair originates in
dermis or hypodermis; Only living hair cells are in or
near bulb.

2. Root: The remainder of the hair in the follicle; epidermal

cells covering the dermal papilla form the hair root.

3. Shaft: The portion above the skin surface.

Hair zones 31
Layers of hair shaft 32
3 layers of the hair shaft in cross section are:
❑ Medulla: Core, loosely arranged dead cells contain soft keratin
and air to provide flexibility
❑ Cortex: Constitutes bulk of the hair; Consists of several layers
of elongated keratinized cells; Middle layer, dead cells contain
hard keratin to provide stiffness.
❑ Cuticle: Composed of multiple layers of very thin, scaly cells
that overlap each other; Outermost, overlapping dead
keratinized cells form shiny surface; Free edges directed
upward.
Layers of hair 33
Layers of hair shaft: a cross section 34
Hair texture and colour 35
❑Texture
➢Straight hair is round in cross-sectional
➢Wavy hair is oval in cross-sectional
➢Curly hair is relatively flat in cross-sectional

❑Color- due to pigment granules in the cells of the cortex

➢Brown and black hair are rich in eumelanin
➢Red hair has high concentration of pheomelanin
➢Blond hair has an intermediate amount of pheomelanin
and very little eumelanin
➢Gray and white hair have little or no melanin; Air
present in medulla
Hair growth and loss 36
Three stages of hair cycle
❑ Anagen: Growth stage; Stem cells multiply
➢ Root sheath cells above papilla form hair cells of hair
matrix
➢ Hair cells make keratin and die as they are pushed upward
❑ Catagen: Degeneration stage; Mitosis in hair matrix ceases
and sheath cells below bulge die; Base of hair keratinizes
into a hard club—club hair; Easily pulled out by brushing.
❑ Telogen: Resting stage; When papilla reaches the bulge.
Hair growth and loss 37
Types of hair 38
Three types of hair
❑ Lanugo: fine, downy, unpigmented hair that appears on the
fetus in the last 3 months of development.
❑ Vellus: fine, pale hair that replaces lanugo by time of birth;
two-thirds of the hair of women; One-tenth of the hair of
men; All of hair of children except eyebrows, eyelashes, and
hair of the scalp.
❑ Terminal: longer, coarser, and more heavily pigmented; Forms
eyebrows, eyelashes, and the hair of the scalp; After puberty,
forms the axillary and pubic hair; Male facial hair and some of
the hair on the trunk and limbs.
Nail 39
❑Nails are hard keratinized plates that rest on the nail bed
of the epidermis.

❑They clear, hard derivatives of stratum corneum.

❑Composed of thin, dead cells packed with hard keratin.

❑Nails grow as the result of mitoses of cells in the matrix

of the nail root.
Nail: Structure and parts 40
❑Nail plate: Hard part of the nail.
➢Free edge- overhangs the fingertip.
➢Nail body- visible attached part of nail
➢Nail root- extends proximally under overlying skin
❑Nail fold: Surrounding skin rising above nail
❑Nail groove: Separates nail fold from nail plate
❑Nail bed: Skin underlying the nail plate
➢Hyponychium- epidermis of the nail bed
Nail: Structure and parts 41
❑Nailmatrix: Growth zone (mitotic) of thickened stratum
basale at proximal end of nail.
➢1 mm per week in fingernails, slightly slower in
toenails.
➢Lunule- opaque white crescent at proximal end of nail
due to thickness of matrix.
❑Eponychium (cuticle): Narrow zone of dead skin
overhanging proximal end of nail.
Nail: Structure and parts 42
Nail: Functions 43

❑Improve grooming, picking, and other manipulations.

❑Provide a counterforce to fleshy fingertips.

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