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 The integument or skin
constitutes an organ system with a variety of important functions.
Consisting of dermal and epidermal
layers, the skin protects the body from various kinds of mechanical
injury and constitutes the first line of defense against invasion of
foreign organisms. With the various epidermal appendages (hair,
nails, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands), skin is critical for
maintaining the body's temperature and preventing desiccation.
The
skin also contains many receptors for various kinds of sensory
stimuli and represents the direct site of interaction between the
body and the environment. In addition, skin has various metabolic
functions, such as synthesis of vitamin D by cells of epidermis.
The protective, sensory, thermoregulatory and artistic platform
functions of the integument are reflected in its complex morphology.
The learning objectives for this module are:
- Identify the
epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis and key features of each.
- Identify
the layers and cells within thick and thin skin.
- Identify associated
structures (sweat and sebaceous glands, hair follicles, and sensory
receptors) within the skin.
The morphology of
thick skin. |
