Parts and
Functions of the
Integumentary
System
WEEK-2
2ND QUARTER
Integumentary is one of the
systems which play an
important role in the body. It is
made up of different organs
that we cannot live without.
Our integumentary system is your body's
outer layer. It consists of your skin, hair,
nails and glands. These organs and
structures are your first line of defense
against bacteria and help protect you from
injury and sunlight. Your integumentary
system works with other systems in your
body to keep it in balance.
The Integumentary is an organ
system consisting of different
parts. It has a set of important
functions in the body. The
following are the important
functions of this organ system.
It acts as a barrier to protect the
body from the outside world. It
protects the body against
diseases It helps retain body
fluids. It eliminates waste products
in the body in the form of sweat,
oil, and wax.
This system is also made up of
different parts namely skin, hair,
nails, and endocrine glands.
SKIN It is the largest organ of the body but
only a few millimeters thick. It forms body’s
outer covering. It protects the body from
chemicals, diseases, ultraviolet rays of the
sun and physical damages. It is the body’s
first line of defense.
It is divided into 3 sub-parts namely
epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis.
[Link]. It is the outermost layer
of the skin that covers almost the
entire body surface. It is the thinnest
layer of the skin. It also provides a
waterproof barrier for the body and
creates the skin tone. It is made up
of special cells called keratinocytes.
C. Hypodermis. It is the deepest
layer of the skin. It is made up of
fats and connective tissues which
attaches the skin from other parts.
B. Dermis. It is a deeper layer of the
skin found beneath the epidermis and
the thickest layer of the skin. It also
gives the skin strength and elasticity. It
is made up of dense irregular
connective tissue , nervous tissue,
blood, and blood vessels.
HAIR. It is an accessory organ of the
integumentary system. It aids in a person’s
social functioning. It is made up of columns
of tightly packed dead keratinocytes and is
found and scattered all over the body.
It is divided into different parts namely
hair follicle and hair bulb.
[Link] follicle It anchors the hair
into the skin. It regulates hair
growth. It opens the sebaceous
glands. It lets the oil and wax
from the body to go out.
B. Hair bulb It forms the base of
the hair follicle. It is made up of
living cells that divide and grow to
build the hair shaft. It modifies hair
growth and structure at different
times of life.
NAILS. It covers the tips of the fingers
and toes. It is also an accessory
organ of the integumentary system
that is made up of sheets of hardened
keratinocytes. It protects the fingers
and toes from environmental damage.
It is made up of several parts namely
nail plate and nail cuticle.
[Link] plate It is the actual
fingernail. It is made up of
translucent keratin.
[Link] It is a layer of clear
skin located at the bottom
edge of the fingers and toes.
EXOCRINE GLANDS. It helps produce
body sweat, oil and wax, helps cool
down the skin surface, helps protect
the skin and moisturizes the skin
surface. It is divided into 2 parts
namely sebaceous gland and sweat
gland.
[Link] gland A small-oil
producing gland found in the
dermis. It is attached to the hair
follicles. It produces oil ,sebum,
and waxy substance.
B. Sweat Gland It is a small
tubular structure of the skin that
produce sweat found in the dermis
and goes out of the skin pores.
Nail plate
cuticle
Sweat gland
Sebaceous gland
Exocrine gland