Integumentary System Trivia

What are three (3) organs/ structures that comprise the integumentary system?

1. Skin

2. Hair

3. Nails

4. Glands (sweat & oil)

What are three (3) functions of the integumentary system?

1. Protection

2. Regulation

3. Sensation

What are two ways structures of the integumentary system react when the body is too cold?

1. Goosebumps (arrector pili muscle contracts)

2. Vasoconstriction (blood vessels reduce diameter, less blood flow through skin, less heat lost)

List three (3) differences between thick skin and thin skin.

1. Thick skin has an extra layer (stratum lucidum) in its epidermis

2. Thin skin contains hair, thick doesn’t

3. Thick skin contains more sweat gland and sensory receptors

How can the skin be an indicator of liver disorder or failure?

Jaundice (yellowing appearance of skin)

What type of cell makes up 90% of 

the epidermis?

Keratinocytes

List the layers 

of the epidermis from deep to superficial.

Basale, spinosum, granulosum, lucidum (thick only), corneum

What type of cell is responsible for giving skin its pigment, and what is its function?

Melanocytes, protect skin from damaging UV radiation

Which structure of the skin creates fingerprints?

Dermal papillae

What type of tissue makes up the hypodermis and what are three (3) functions?

Adipose (fat) tissue - protection (absorb shock), insulation (heat barrier), energy storage, attaches skin to tissues below

What are three (3) factors that influence nail growth?

Genetics, age, temperature/season

List and briefly describe the three stages of the hair growth cycle. 

1. Growth stage - cells dividing, hair growing

2. Regression stage - cells stop dividing, follicle shrinks

3. Resting stage - hair falls out

What are two 

functions of sebum?

1. Keeps hair and skin soft and pliable

2. Creates lipid barrier to prevent excess evaporation

3. Inhibits surface bacteria growth

What type of sweat gland is involved in thermoregulation?

1. Apocrine

2. Eccrine

3. Sebaceous

4. Sudoriferous

Eccrine

What causes body odor?

(Be specific!)

When surface bacteria feed on the lipids and proteins of apocrine sweat, it produces body odor.

How is exposure to UV radiation beneficial to the human body? 

How can it be detrimental?

Beneficial: dermal vitamin D synthesis

Deterimental: damages DNA, potentially causing skin cancer

Describe 3 ways the integumentary system changes as humans age and WHY these changes are occuring.

1. Wrinkles - breakdown of collagen

2. Sagging - reduction of elastic fibers

3. Hair turns gray/white - decreased melanin production

4. Reduced sweat production - thermoregulation less efficient