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The integumentary system
The integumentary system
The integumentary system
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The integumentary system is one of multiple organ systems that functions to keep the body in homeostasis. The word “integument” means the tough outer protective layer, such as the skin of an animal or wall of a plant. Being derived from this word, the integumentary system includes the skin and associated features, such as hair and nails, and functions to protect the body from the outside environment.
The skin and nails sit superficial, or on top of, the underlying muscles, bones, and organs, and act to keep them tightly in place. These structures are the body’s first line of defense against any outside element.
Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the body and acts as a barrier between the inside environment of the body and the outside
The nail is a complex cutaneous structure that consists mainly of the nail matrix, nail plate, nail bed, cuticle (eponychium), and nail folds. The cuticle is an outgrowth of the proximal fold, which is situated between the skin of the digit and the nail plate, providing a waterproof seal from external irritants and pathogens.
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...
The three functions of the skeletal system are to support, to allow movement, and to protect. The skeleton is the framework of the body and also cradles its soft organs, with it the body would be just a jelly mass it wouldn’t have no definite shape and would just collapse. It supports the softer tissues and provides points of attachment for more skeletal muscles to hold all of the parts of the body upright. For example, the bones of the legs as pillars to support the body trunk we stand up. It also supports the body against the pull of gravity. The skeletal allows movement. The skeletal muscle attached to the bones by tendons and uses the bones as a simple mechanical lever system to move the body and its parts. All together with the muscles
Hair is considered one of the components of the integumentary system, along with the skin, nails, glands and nerves. Mammalian hair has many functions including protection from environmental factors and the ability to disperse sweat gland products such as pheromones. Almost every part of the human body is covered by hair except for the palms, hands and bottoms of the feet. On average, every person has about five million hairs; each of these hairs is born from a follicle or tiny tube-like structure that grows into the dermis layer of the skin. Oftentimes this follicle even reaches the subcutaneous layer, which is made of fat and connective tissue. (UXL Complete Health Research, 2001)
The integumentary system is composed of the skin and the structures related to the skin, which include the hair, the finger nails, the sensory receptors and the glands (Shier, Butler, & Lewis, 2009). This system has an important function since it provides protection to the body, helps to maintain body temperature, and contains sensory receptors (p.117). The skin has essential function such as regulating homeostasis and body temperature, also delaying the loss of water from deeper tissues, storing sensory receptor, synthesizing biomechanical, and discharging waste from the body (p.117). The skin has two layers: the epidermis (outer layer) and the dermis (inner layer) (p.117). There is also a subcutaneous layer or hypodermis (p.117). According to Shier, Butler, and Lewis 2009 “as its name indicates, this layer is beneath the skin and not a true layer of the skin” (p.117). This layer has the blood vessels that supply the skin (p.117).
The system of the body that consists of bones, connective tissues, and cartilage is known as the skeletal system. Some major functions of this system are as follows:
Our skin functions as a daily defense for our bodies against disease because of skin and mucous membranes. The skin is a massive organ and it protects everything inside our bodies such as our muscles, bones and organs. Our skin protects us from bacteria, parasites, viruses and pathogens ...
The first part of the integumentary system is the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin and functions as the major protection for the underlying skin and nerves. The epidermis is filled with tiny cells called keratin, which are dead cells that also help aid in protection. The epidermis also contains melanocytes which contain cells called melanin which are what give our skin color and absorb the light from the sun.
Balaban and Bobick (2008) state that skin has several different functions and that these functions are significant. The outer skin cells are lifeless and keratinized which makes the skin waterproof. Skin also functions as a barricade against things such as abrasions as well as bacteria and viruses. Skin helps in the regulation of body temperature and contains receptors that receive the sensations of touch, vibration, pain, and temperature. Balaban and Bobick (2008) also state that, “Skin is a tissue membrane which consists of layers of epithelial and connective tissues” (p.42). Epidermis is the outer layer of the skins epithelial tissue and dermis is the inner layer of the connective tissue and a basement membrane separates the two layers. The appendages of the skin include sebaceous glands, sudoriferous glands, hair, and nails (Dr. Grass, 2013). Balaban and Bobick (2008) state that, “Scientists estimate there are between 50 and 100 trillion cells in the human body” (p. 27). Cells are constantly dying and new cells are always replacing them. These are normal functions of the skin, but skin functions can be altered during the diseased state.
Although your teeth are also considered part of your skeletal system, they are not counted as bones. Your teeth consist of enamel and dentin. Enamel is the strongest substance in your body. The main priority of the skeletal system is to provide support for the body. Without bones our body would be in a pile of guts and mush on the floor. Your skeleton furthermore assists to protect your internal organs and fragile body tissues. The brain, eyes, heart, lungs and spinal cord are all sheltered by your
To begin we will look at the integumentary system and its entire multitude of functions. The main components of the integumentary system are the skin, hair, nails, glands and nerves. For the purpose of this paper we will focus mainly on the levels of the skin and their functions. While the integumentary
Our vertebrate integumentary system performs many functions within the various layers and tissues of the skin. These tasks help protect the skin from all sorts of dangers. One such thing our skin protects us from is ultraviolet radiation. Our skin, when exposed to sunlight for long periods of time, can change its coloring. This process is what happens when an individual gets tan or sunburned. Melanin a unique pigment that darkens our skin when exposed to sunlight protects our skin from radiation that is found in these ultraviolet rays. It surrounds the nucleus acting as a barrier that protects our DNA from ultraviolet radiation that could cause cancer or DNA complications. Another function that the integumentary system performs is thermoregulation
The integumentary system has skin hair nails and glands in it.The skin is for protection, regulation and sensation.Hair is to protection, regulation of body temperature, and facilitation of evaporation of perspiration.the function of glands is to produce and secrete hormones, chemical substances produced in the body that regulate the activity of cells or organs. These hormones regulate the body's growth,
The human body is very complex. It is like a job. You have to do a million things in one day to make it through the day. The body uses nine systems to do all of those jobs. They all have separate functions, but some work together. Each system is also made up of organs. There are many ways to care and protect the systems from the many different problems they can have. There are also many interesting facts about each system.
Support is a very important fuction as without the skeleton the body would have no means of staying upright as almost all of the body tissues are soft this helps gives the body structure. The Skeleton plays an important role in the protection of the organs for example the skull protects the brain and the ribcage protect the lungs.The skeleton assists in the movement of the body as the ligaments in the body attach bone to bone and the tendons attach muscle to bone. To create movement the muscular system and the skeletal system work together creating the musculoskeletal. The skeleton can begin to move once the muscles contract. The fifth function of the skeleton is the formation of joints, these are essential to create movement within the body. Muscle attachment allows the bones to move. This is done by the muscles attaching to the bones by tendons. Minerals such as calcium salts and phosphorus are stored in the bones. The final function of the skeletal system is the formation of blood cells; most of the blood cells for the body are produced by red bone