Introduction to the Integumentary System

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the integumentary system, focusing on the skin, its layers, and the cells present within them.

Integumentary system

The organ system that includes the skin and its accessory structures such as glands, hairs, and nails.

Epidermis

The outermost, avascular layer of the skin comprised of multiple layers of epithelial cells.

Dermis

The deeper layer of skin, located beneath the epidermis, containing connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.

Vitamin D synthesis

The process by which vitamin D is produced in the skin, critical for calcium regulation in the body.

Stratum germinativum (stratum basale)

The deepest layer of the epidermis, responsible for cell division and the generation of new skin cells.

Epidermal ridges

Folds in the epidermis that increase the surface area for attachment to the dermis, enhancing structural stability.

Merkel cells

Specialized cells found in the stratum germinativum that are responsible for sensing light touch.

Melanocytes

Cells located in the epidermis that produce melanin, responsible for the pigmentation of the skin.

Stratum spinosum

The layer of the epidermis above the stratum germinativum, characterized by keratinocytes connected by desmosomes.

Langerhans cells

Dendritic cells in the stratum spinosum that act as macrophages, part of the immune response to foreign pathogens.

Stratum granulosum

The layer of the epidermis where cells begin to dehydrate and produce keratin, forming a waterproof barrier.

Stratum lucidum

A clear, thin layer of the epidermis present in thick skin, providing additional protection.

Stratum corneum

The outermost layer of the epidermis, composed of dead keratinized cells that provide a protective barrier.

Keratinization

The process through which keratinocytes undergo changes that result in dehydration and the formation of a tough protective layer.

Hyperplasia

The rapid division of cells in response to mechanical stress, which can lead to conditions like calluses.

Calluses

Thickened areas of skin that develop in response to repeated mechanical stress or friction.