Essay On The Integumentary System

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The integumentary system has five main functions. The five main functions of the integumentary system are protection, regulation, sensation, absorption, and secretion. It consists of the hair, nails, skin, sebaceous and sweat glands. The largest organ of the entire body is the skin. The skin consists of three different layers. The epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer, these are the three layers of the skin. There is a layer that is deeper than the skin and contains body fat, that layer is called the hypodermis. Sweat glands are also called sudoriferous glands. One of the functions of the skin is to maintain homeostasis. Synthesis of vitamin D, excretion of urea, excretion of salts and water are a few things that the skin is also capable of. The top layer of the skin is called the epidermis. The epidermis contains five different layers. These layers are the stratum corneum, the stratum lucidum, the stratum spinosum, and the stratum basale. In the epidermis there are four different cell types. The keratinocytes which produce keratin, the merkel cells that are sensitive to touch, the langerhans cells which is a dendritic type off cell, and the melanocytes which produce melanin.
The second layer of the skin is called the dermis and is also known as the middle layer. The dermis is what holds the body together. The dermis has layers to it as well as the epidermis. There are two layers to the dermis, the papillary layer and the reticular layer. The cells of the dermis are fibroblast, macrophages, mast cells, and scattered white blood cells (wbc’s). the dermis is richly supplied with nerve fibers and BV;s. dermal BV’s is also a part of the integumentary system, dermal BV,s have converging and diverging vessels that ar...

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...may have the same symptoms. The symptoms are red bumps that may bleed if the sores are picked over.
Another condition associated with the integumentary system is impetigo. This skin condition is mostly seen in children. This condition of the skin is very easy to diagnose and is usually done with the doctor just looking at the patients affected area. The doctor may take a piece of the sore and send it to a lab to get a clearer diagnosis of impetigo.. impetigo ia contagious and can be spread by sharing towels and close contact. It also can be spread by scratching. The symptoms of impetigo are small red bumps around the mouth and nose area. Blisters and crusty sores are also symptoms. The treatment for impetigo is antibiotics. In a mild case of impetigo antibiotic ointment or cream is prescribed. In severe cases the doctor prescribes antibiotic pills to the patient.

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