Integumentary System

Integumentary system includes… Skin Hair Nails

Its function is to… Prevent the loss of water Protect the body from injury and infection Help regulate body temperature, eliminate wastes and gather information about the environment Produce vitamin D

FUN facts: The skin is the largest organ in the body. Every time you rub your hands together, you lose hundreds, even thousands of dead skin cells.

Structure info: The skin consists of 2 main layers ◦ Epidermis-outer most layer and the thinnest. It doesn’t have any nerves of blood vessels. (This is why you don’t feel pain or bleed with shallow scratches.) ◦ Dermis-lower layer of the skin. It contains the nerves, blood vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles and a fat layer that pads the internal organs and helps keep heat in the body.

Structure info Continued… Cell life cycle: New cells begin deep in the epidermis. After about 2 weeks the cells die and become part of the surface layer. The dead cells are in the surface layer for about 2 weeks and then are shed and replaced.

How are structure and function related? The dead cells in the epidermis form a tough barrier that protects the living cells beneath it.

Taking care… Drinking plenty of water, eating foods that contain a lot of water, limit sun exposure, and keep your skin clean and dry.

Diseases/conditions of the skin: Acne- A bacterial infection that occurs when your oil glands get clogged.

Athlete’s foot- A fungal infection that occurs on the feet. Fungi grow well in warm, moist surroundings.

Cancer- A disease when some cells divide uncontrollably. Repeated exposure to sunlight can damage skin cells and cause them to become cancerous.