Integument System

Introduction
covers entire body making up about 20% of body weight and is
the largest organ in the body.
functions:
 thermal regulation
 protection from outside
 vapor & mechanical barrier
 excretion of some waste products
 involved in vitamin D synthesis
 sensory function (temperature and touch)
 lipid soluble drug delivery
 appearance
 Layers Of Skin

Epidermis
Dermis
Hypodermis
 Epidermis
Cell types:
Epithelial with some
specialized cells:
melanocytes,
keratinocyte, Merkels
cell and Langerhans
cell.
 Keratinocytes

-most abundant (about 90%) cell of epidermis

-cuboidal to squamous morphology depending on
location

-as cells migrate to outermost layer, the content and

aggregation status of keratins increases
 Melanocytes
- about 5% of the living cells of the epidermis
near base of epidermis and attached to basal lamina
- synthesize melanin:
- two different forms:
● - eumelanin (brown pigment)
- pheomelanin (red pigment)
melanocyte density varies with location in body
Diagram of a melanocyte.
The melanin granules are
synthesized in the
melanocyte, migrate to its
processes, and are
transferred into the
cytoplasm of
keratinocytes.
 Langerhan's Cell
- 2 to 8 % of epidermal cells
- found within the basal and superior layers of the epidermis
- star-shaped cells (dendritic) cells
- attach to keratinocytes via E-cadherins (adherens type
junctions) in a regulated manner
- bone-marrow derived
- responsible for presenting antigen to T-cells in non-epidermal
sites
 Merkel's cell
few in number (< 1%)
found in the basal layer of the epidermis and form
macula adherens junctions with keratinocytes
located over entire surface but more prominent on
palms and soles of feet (glabrous skin)
cells contain small dense granules similar to
neuroendocrine cells
function thought to be of sensory or
neuroendocrine nature
 Layers of epidermis
Stratum basale
-basal cell layer of epithelia which
rests upon thick basal lamina
-single layer of cuboidal cells
-keratinocytes most numerous
-melanocytes are located here
only
-keratinocytes divide in the region
between the stratum basale and
stratum spinosum in a layer called
the malpighian layer
 Stratum spinosum
-cuboidal to squamous
cells with central nuclei

-contain aggregates of
keratin called tonofilaments

-responsible for
mechanical strength of
epidermis

-variable number of cell

layers
 Stratum granulosum
-cells mostly squamous
-usually 3 - 5 cell layers thick
-keratinocytes contain keratohyalin granules in this layer
stratum lucidum:
-not obvious in thin skin
-thin layer of very flat,
eosinophilic, anucleate cells
-somewhat translucent layer
stratum corneum:
-outermost layer
-15 - 20 (thin skin) or more (thick
skin) layers of flattened, anucleate
cells
-mostly composed of keratin
filaments with interfilament matrix
and glycolipid
 Dermis
cells:
i) fibroblasts, lymphocytes, macrophages, mast
cells
ii) secretory cells and ducts form glands (derived
from the epidermis)
iii) smooth muscle attached to hair follicles and in
skin covering the penis, scrotum, and areola
around nipples
topology (two layers):
i) papillary layer: ridges outline of loose CT just below the
epidermis
- increases surface area of contact between epidermis
and dermis
- special collagen fibrils link basal lamina of epidermis to
collagen fibers in dermis, called anchoring fibrils
- abundant capillary networks within the papilla
ii) reticular layer: layer between papillary layer and
hypodermis
-dense irregular CT
composition:
i) mainly collagen type III in papillary layer, mainly type I in
reticular
ii) small elastic fibers in papillary layer and larger elastic fibers
in the reticular layer
iii) rich supply of arteries and veins, sensory nerve endings and
motor nerves innervating vasculature and glands of skin
 Hypodermis
a) cells:fibroblasts, fat cells, lymphocytes, macrophages,
mast cells
b) topology:-variable thickness depending on location and
nutritional status
-site of deposition of the majority of body fat
c) composition: - loose CT containing fat cells
- arteries, veins, lymphatics, and nerves that supply and
drain the skin
 Types of hair
types of hair:
i) lanugo: neonatal, form at 7 mo and shed
by 8 mo in utero, fine, soft, hair without a
medulla (non pigmented)
ii) vellus: post-natal, short, fine shaft, no
medulla (non-pigmented),
iii) intermediate: post-natal to 2 years of age,
intermediate between vellus and terminal hair
iv) terminal: post-natal and on, long, course
shaft, medullated (pigmented), most common
visible hair
● smooth muscle (arrector pili
muscle) attaches to the dermal
sheath of the follicle just
below the sebaceous gland
● - inferior to the sebaceous
gland, the shaft is attached to
an epithelial layer called the
inner root sheath
● - exterior to the inner root
sheath is a continuation of the
outer (external) root sheath
 Nails Anatomy
nail root:stratum basale and
spinosum of epidermis are
present here forming nail
matrix cells which
synthesize the nail plate
nail bed: stratum spinosum
of nail, does not contribute
to nail synthesis
nail plate: closely
compacted, keratin
enriched with hard
interfibrillar material, it is the
stratum corneum of the nail