What’s Up With That?

What’s Up With That?

Think for a moment…

A suit of armor protected a knight from injuries in battle. Imagine what it would be like to wear a suite of armor. For one thing, it would feel very heavy. Also, you’d probably make a great deal of noise every time you moved. In some ways, your skin is like a suit of armor. It isn’t as strong, but it has many advantages over metal armor.

INTEGUMENT

The Structure and Function of Skin

Integument

“Covering” Includes skin & skin

appendages Glands Hair Nails

Functions of Skin

Protection Mechanical Pathogens UV Damage Chemical Thermal Dessication

(drying out)

Functions of Skin

Temperature regulation Excretion – perspiration

eliminates salts & urea Sensation –temperature,

touch, pressure & pain Vitamin D synthesis

Skin Structure (deep to superficial)

Hypodermis

Not part of skin, but anchors it to underlying organs

Mostly adipose tissue (fat) & other connective tissue

Responsible for most female curves

Dermis (still deep to superficial)

Dense connective tissue Two layers:

Reticular layer – contains glands, blood vessels, & deep pressure receptors (Pacinian corpuscles)

Papillary layer – made of projections called papillae that cause fingerprints and contain:Pain receptors (free nerve endings)Touch receptors (Meissner’s corpuscles) Capillary loops

Epidermis

No blood vessels Bottom layer is

rapidly dividing Top layer is all

dead cells

The Big Picture

Questions to Consider

What is a blister? Why doesn’t it hurt to shave? It takes off

layers of cells every time. Why don’t people bleed when they shave? What is a tattoo? People say “beauty is only skin deep”. Do you

agree when nearly everything you see on a person is dead?