The integumentary system is an organ system consisting of the skin, hair, nails, and exocrine glands. The skin is only a few millimeters thick yet is by far the largest organ in the body. The average person’s skin weighs 10 pounds and has a surface area of almost 20 square feet. Skin forms the body’s outer covering and forms a barrier to protect the body from chemicals, disease, UV light, and physical damage. Hair and nails extend from the skin to reinforce the skin and protect it from environmental.
Anatomy of the Integumentary System
Integumentary system organs:
Nails, skin , hair
Epidermis
The epidermis is the most superficial layer of the skin that covers almost the entire body surface. The cells of the epidermis receive all of their nutrients via diffusion of fluids from the dermis.
Dermis
The dermis is the deep layer of the skin found under the epidermis. The dermis is mostly made of dense irregular connective tissue along with nervous tissue, blood, and blood vessels. The dermis is much thicker than the epidermis and gives the skin its strength and elasticity. Within the dermis there are two distinct regions: the papillary layer and the reticular layer
Hypodermis
Deep to the dermis is a layer of loose connective tissues known as the hypodermis, subcutis, or subcutaneous tissue. The hypodermis serves as the flexible connection between the skin and the underlying muscles and bones as well as a fat storage area.
Skin Cancer:
Most are benign and do not spread. Some are malignant and invasive. The most important risk factor is overexposure to U.V. radiation.can be diagnosed using the “ABCD rule”
A: asymmetry - 2 sides do not match
B: irregular border - not smooth
C: color - pigmented spot
D: diameter - larger than 6 mm
Viral Infections
Some of the well-known viral infections of the skin include chickenpox, measles, German measles, and cold sores (herpes simplex). Warts, which are caused by a viral infection of the epidermis, are generally harmless and usually disappear with treatment.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo (vit-i-li'-go) is the the development of patches of the white skin because the melanocytes in the affected area are destroyed, apparently by an autoimmune response.
Moles
A mole is an elevation of the skin that is variable in size and is often pigmented and hairy. Histologically, a mole is an aggregation or "nest" of melanocytes in the epidermis or dermis. They are a normal occurrence, and most people have 10 to 20 moles, which appear in childhood and enlarge until puberty.
Bacterial Infections
Acne is a disorder of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands that affects almost everyone at some time or another. Although the exact cause of acne is unknown, four factors are believed to be involved: hormones, sebum, abnormal keratinization within the hair follicle, and the bacterium Propioni-bacterium acnes.
If this system failed, here are a few outcomes...
Sweat is a part of homeostasis and when this layer doesn't exist you cannot excrete sweat. Therefore, you could not use this as a way to cool off.
Without the skin, hair, and nails then viruses and bacteria could just get into your body easily!
If there was no integumentary system or it failed rocks and other unwanted objects could get into your body.
References:
"Integumentary System." About.com Biology. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2014. <http://biology.about.com/od/organsystems/ss/integumentary_system.htm>.
"Human Physiology/Integumentary System." - Wikibooks, open books for an open world. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2014. <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Human_Physiology/Integumentary_System>.
"Integumentary system." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Apr. 2014. Web. 4 May 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integumentary_system>.
"Clinical Disorders of the Integumentary System." Clinical Disorders of the Integumentary System. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2014. <http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/ap/foxhumphys/student/olc/h-reading4.html>.
"What would happen to me if it failed?." Integumentary System. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2014. <http://theintegumentarysystemandmore.weebly.com/what-would-happen-to-me-if-it-failed.html>.
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