Integumentary System
The most important of the Integumentary system (the skin) is to protection. This is accomplished by these 5 steps:
A. Serving as a barrier to infection and injury - There are multiple layers of skin. In these layers lie several types of sensory receptors. This allows the body to register sensations such as pressure, heat, cold, and pain. Skin is also coated in a small layer of sebum, which is mildly toxic to bacteria.
B. Helping to regulate body temperature - When the body is cold, blood vessels in the Dermis narrow to conserve heat. In the heat, blood vessels widen to increase heat loss. There is also a layer of fat and loose connective tissue that helps to insulate the body (hypodermis). When the body gets cold, tiny muscles that are attached to the hair follicles contract, which causes the hairs to stand up, which creates goose bumps and that helps to conserve heat. When the body is hot, secretions are stimulated by nerve impulses that cause the production of sweat and it helps to cool the body down by evaporating off of the body and taking heat away along with it.
C. Removes waste products from the body - The skin contains sweat and sebaceous glands. These glands allow for the release of sweat and oils that are composed of different wastes from the body.
D. Provides ultra-violet radiation protection from the sun - Skin contains melanin. Melanin, depending on how much of it a person has in their skin, helps to protect the skin and body from UV radiation that can result in skin damage and in skin cancer. Melanin absorbs the harmful rays.
E. Produces vitamine D - The skin utilizes the sun’s rays for vitamin synthesis and at the same time reflects the harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun
A. Serving as a barrier to infection and injury - There are multiple layers of skin. In these layers lie several types of sensory receptors. This allows the body to register sensations such as pressure, heat, cold, and pain. Skin is also coated in a small layer of sebum, which is mildly toxic to bacteria.
B. Helping to regulate body temperature - When the body is cold, blood vessels in the Dermis narrow to conserve heat. In the heat, blood vessels widen to increase heat loss. There is also a layer of fat and loose connective tissue that helps to insulate the body (hypodermis). When the body gets cold, tiny muscles that are attached to the hair follicles contract, which causes the hairs to stand up, which creates goose bumps and that helps to conserve heat. When the body is hot, secretions are stimulated by nerve impulses that cause the production of sweat and it helps to cool the body down by evaporating off of the body and taking heat away along with it.
C. Removes waste products from the body - The skin contains sweat and sebaceous glands. These glands allow for the release of sweat and oils that are composed of different wastes from the body.
D. Provides ultra-violet radiation protection from the sun - Skin contains melanin. Melanin, depending on how much of it a person has in their skin, helps to protect the skin and body from UV radiation that can result in skin damage and in skin cancer. Melanin absorbs the harmful rays.
E. Produces vitamine D - The skin utilizes the sun’s rays for vitamin synthesis and at the same time reflects the harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun