LAYERS OF THE SKIN

The skin and its accessory structures make up the integumentary system, which provides the body with
overall protection.

The Epidermis-is composed of keratinized, stratified squamous epithelium.

*Keratinocyte is a cell that manufactures and stores the protein keratin. Keratin is an in is tricellular
fibrous protein that gives hair, nails, and skin their hardness and water-resistant properties.

• Stratum Basale- is the deepest epidermal layer and attaches the epidermis to the basal lamina,
below which lie the layers of the dermis.

 Dermal papillae increase the strength of the connection between the epidermis and dermis;
the greater the folding, the stronger the connections made.

 Merkel cell, which functions as a receptor and is responsible for stimulating sensory nerves
that the brain perceives as touch.

 melanocyte, a cell that produces the pigment

 Melanin gives hair and skin its color, and also helps protect the living cells of the epidermis
from ultraviolet.

• Stratum Spinosum - is spiny in appearance due to the protruding cell processes that join the cells via a
structure called a desmosome. interspersed among the keratinocytes of this layer is a type of dendritic cell
called the Langerhans cell,

• Stratum Granulosum- stratum granulosum has a grainy appearance due to further changes to the
keratinocytes as they are pushed from the stratum spinosum.

• Stratum Lucidum - stratum lucidum is a smooth, seemingly translucent layer of the epidermis located
just above the stratum granulosum and below the stratum corneum. Eleidin, a clear protein rich in lipids,
derived from keratohyalin,

• Stratum Corneum - stratum corneum is the most superficial layer of the epidermis and is the layer
exposed to the outside environment.

DERMIS
might be considered the “core” of the integumentary system (derma- = “skin”), as distinct from the
epidermis (epi- = “upon” or “over”) and hypodermis (hypo- = “below”).
  Papillary Layer is made of loose, areolar connective tissue, which means the collagen and
elastin fibers of this layer form a loose mesh.

 Reticular Layer - composed of dense, irregular

connective tissue.

o Elastin fibers provide some elasticity to the skin, enabling movement.

HYPODERMIS
- is a layer directly below the dermis and serves to connect the skin to the underlying fascia (fibrous tissue)
of the bones and muscles.

PIGMENTATION
- The color of skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and
hemoglobin. The melanin is transferred into the keratinocytes via a cellular vesicle called a
melanosome.

ACCESSORY STRUCTURES OF THE SKIN

Hair- is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized
cells. Strands of hair originate in an epidermal penetration of the dermis called the hair follicle. The
hair shaft is the part of the hair not anchored to the follicle, and much of this is exposed at the skin’s
surface. The rest of the hair, which is anchored in the follicle, lies below the surface of the skin and
is referred to as the hair root. The hair root ends deep in the dermis at the hair bulb, and includes a
layer of mitotically active basal cells called the hair matrix. The hair bulb surrounds the hair papilla,
which is made of connective tissue and contains blood capillaries and nerve endings from the
dermis.

HAIR SHAFT
MEDULA- forms the central core of the hair
CORTEX- surrounds the hair
CUTICLE- a layer of compressed, keratinized cells that is covered by an outer layer of very hard,
keratinized cells.

HAIR FOCILE
 three concentric layers of cells:
INTERNAL ROOT SHEATH- surround the root of the growing hair and extend just up to the hair
shaft
EXTERNAL ROOT SHEATH- which is an extension of the epidermis, encloses the hair root.
GLASSY MEMBRANE- is a thick, clear connective tissue sheath covering the hair root,
connecting it to the tissue of the dermis.

HAIR GROWTH
three phases;

1. ANAGEN PHASE, during which cells divide rapidly at the root of the hair, pushing the hair
shaft up and out.

2. CATAGEN PHASE lasts only 2 to 3 weeks, and marks a transition from the hair follicle’s
active growth.

3. TELOGEN PHASE, the hair follicle is at rest and no new growth occurs. At the end of this
phase, which lasts about 2 to 4 months, another anagen phase begins.

HAIR COLOR

Similar to the skin, hair gets its color from the pigment melanin.

NAIL

- nail body is formed on the nail bed, and protects the tips of our fingers and toes as they are the
farthest extremities and the parts of the body that experience the maximum mechanical stress
- overlaps the nail on the sides, helping to anchor the nail body.

- lunula (the “little moon”) a thick layer of epithelium over the nail matrix forms a crescent- shaped
region.

- Hyponychium- The area beneath the free edge of the nail, furthest from the cuticle.

SWEAT GLANDS

- SUDORIFEROUS GLANDS- produce sweat to cool the body.

- ECCRINE SWEAT GLANDS- is type of gland that produces a hypotonic sweat for thermoregulation.

- APOCRINE SWEAT GLANDS- usually associated with hair follicles in densely hairy areas, such

as armpits and genital regions.

- SEBACEOUS GLANDS - is a type of oil gland that is found all over the body and helps to lubricate

and waterproof the skin and hair

- SEBUM- a mixture of lipids, onto the skin surface, thereby naturally lubricating the dry and dead

layer of keratinized cells of the stratum corneum, keeping it pliable.

FUNCTIONS OF THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

 PROTECTION

 SENSORY FUNCTION

o Meissner corpuscle - most sensitive to touch

o Pacinian corpuscle- sensitive to vibration

 THERMOREGULATION

 VITAMIN D SYNTHESIS

DISEASES, DISORDER AND INJURIES OF THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

metastasis -produce cells that can mobilize and establish tumors in other organs of the body;

 Basal cell carcinoma is a form of cancer that affects the mitotically active stem cells in the
stratum basale of the epidermis.

 Squamous cell carcinoma is a cancer that affects the keratinocytes of the stratum
spinosum and presents as lesions commonly found on the scalp, ears, and hands.

 melanoma is a cancer characterized by the uncontrolled growth of melanocytes, the

 ABCDE mnemonic

 Asymmetry – the two sides are not symmetrical

 • Color – the color is varied shades of brown or black

 • Diameter – it is larger than 6 mm (0.24 in)

 • Evolving – its shape has changed

 Elevated – it is raised on the skin surface

 • Firm – it feels hard to the touch

 • Growing – it is getting larger

SKIN DISORDERS
Eczema is an allergic reaction that manifests as dry, itchy patches of skin that resemble rashes

Acne is a skin disturbance that typically occurs on areas of the skin that are rich in sebaceous glands (face
and back).

INJURIES
-Injuries include burns and wounds, as well as scars and calluses

 Burns
 First degree burn- is a superficial burn that affects only the epidermis.

o second-degree burn- goes deeper and affects both the epidermis and a portion of the
dermis.

o third-degree burn- fully extends into the epidermis and dermis, destroying the tissue
and affecting the nerve endings and sensory function.

o ourth-degree burn- is even more severe, affecting the underlying muscle and bone.

SCARS AND KELOIDS

Keloids - collagen formation does not stop when the wound is heal

Bedsores also called decubitis ulcers, are caused by constant, long-term, unrelieved pressure on certain
body parts that are bony, reducing blood flow to the area and leading to necrosis (tissue death).

stretch mark results when the dermis is stretched beyond its limits of elasticity, as the skin stretches to
accommodate the excess pressure.

CALLUSES
a constant source of abrasion on your toes, you tend to form a callus at the point of contact.

corn is a specialized form of callus. Corns form from abrasions on the skin that result from an elliptical-
type motion.