Integumentary system: want to learn more about it?
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Kim Bengochea, Regis University, Denver
Integumentary system
Learning objectives
This study unit will help you to:
1. Learn the components of the integumentary system
2. Discover the structure and function of each of the components of the system
3. Understand the basic functions of the integumentary system as a whole
Watch videos
The integumentary system envelops the external surface of the body. The largest organ of this system, and of the body in general, is the skin. Besides the skin, the integumentary system also comprises the skin appendages (hair, nails, sweat and sebaceous glands), subcutaneous tissue, deep fascia, and breasts.
This video tutorial will explain the layers, structure and function of the skin, its appendages, and other parts of the integumentary system.
Memorize the epidermal layers of the skin easily with the help of this video:
Take a quiz
Reinforce your knowledge with our quiz:
To mix things up and choose your own topics to get quizzed on, try out our customizable quiz:
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/atlas_overview_image/93/pSWZyZnq7aDOenolzsIsA_en.JPG "A cross section showing the layers of the integumentary system from superficial to deep: the skin, subcutaneous tissue and deep (muscular) fascia. The skin appendages are shown originating from various skin levels and protruding through the skin surface."){kind=logo}
Browse our atlas gallery to analyze all the parts of the integumentary system.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/intramuscular-artery/udk5SJ9B6OIqo7DrMcJA_A_intramuscularis_02.png "Intramuscular artery (Arteria intramuscularis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lamellar-corpuscle/kpgofbcbdrZFEWSgzEwzQ_Pacinian_corpuscle_02.png "Lamellar (Pacinian) corpuscle (Corpusculum lamellosum)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tactile-corpuscle/n4zld8XMKmDkNXdwdB40ng_Meissner_s_corpuscles_02.png "Tactile corpuscle (Corpusculum tactile)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/dermis/UDjXqAOa2KJKXr9l2rQw_Dermis_01.png "Dermis"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/epidermis/aygBoinE7BUQpZnTowwAww_Epidermis_01.png "Epidermis"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/fascia/eqpab7mzKCfoCM8et7Shg_Fascia_01.png "Deep fascia (Fascia musculorum)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/hair-follicle/0y6tsYIMEudJBWtpAn8A_Hair_follicles_02.png "Hair follicle (Folliculus pili)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/sebaceous-gland/CxveAgjsqwDs6yPasq3kHQ_Sebaceous_glands_02.png "Sebaceous gland (Glandula sebacea)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/glandula-sudorifera/WjZssJ6bGPKvjkn0JfA_Sweat_glands_01.png "Sweat gland (Glandula sudorifera)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-arrector-pili/tKyGFaPfG4BXkp9zsMEw_Arrector_pili_01.png "Arrector muscle of hair (Musculus arrector pili)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/nervi-cutanei/AWAcSzQosBFKxy7Wg01g_Cutaneous_nerves_01.png "Dermal neural plexus (Plexus dermalis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/sweat-pore/oFX2KlqSSwPDpqVQvP0GQ_Pores_of_sweat_glands_02.png "Sweat pore (Porus sudorifer)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/hair-shaft/6LDs0jBCUnUduhXT7SCGw_Hair_shaft_02.png "Hair shaft (Stipes pili)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/stratum-corneum/zNpc7ePkMqH5nPMLh7bmng_Stratum_corneum.png "Stratum corneum of epidermis (Stratum corneum epidermis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/stratum-germinativum-2/XSsnfhr797tn4DjATSxhrg_Stratum_basale_magnified.jpg "Stratum basale of epidermis (Stratum basale epidermis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/stratum-papillare/H2nNE37vcy8i9agc37Rqg_Stratum_papillare_01.png "Papillary layer of dermis (Stratum papillare dermis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/stratum-reticulare/oQbNrpWYxB8IUqpwekPuOQ_Stratum_reticulare_01.png "Reticular layer of dermis (Stratum reticulare dermis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/subcutis/pW0RrdrDjDZxwsjUhxJEzQ_Subcutis_01.png "Subcutaneous tissue (Tela subcutanea)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/vena-intramuscularis/5ASwqSoiBj1NxVXo6gejuw_vena_intramuscularis.jpg "Intramuscular vein (Vena intramuscularis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/stratum-spinosum-4/Pp6s2ZMuPpxRS1pTMng_Stratum_spinosum_magnified.jpg "Stratum spinosum of epidermis (Stratum spinosum epidermis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/stratum-granulosum-4/sjxpLWGi4JfyhJdD65muA_Stratum_granulosum_magnified.jpg "Stratum granulosum of epidermis (Stratum granulosum epidermis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/dermal-papillae-1/phTr8sUVb5IlzaK0ZslFg_dermal_papillae.jpg "Dermal papilla (Papilla dermis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/skin-sulci/IUCbGwJUWuainHmxwIIAQg_sulci_cutis.jpg "Skin sulci (Sulci cutis)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/subpapillary-arterial-plexus/qPEBSYlnDOWlLgS9TVKPA_Subpapillary_arterial_plexus.jpg "Subpapillary arterial plexus (Rete arteriosum subpapillare)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/dermal-arterial-plexus/0WJuuWb9hVXTLAqMlWV6cg_Dermal_arterial_plexus.jpg "Dermal arterial plexus (Rete arteriosum dermale)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/subpapillary-venous-plexus/zjTwWHKE2TmMOHahS0A_Subpapillary_venous_plexus.jpg "Subpapillary venous plexus (Plexus venosus subpapillaris)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/deep-dermal-venous-plexus/IMl3Pa5II7BqCtf2VnAw_Deep_dermal_venous_plexus.jpg "Deep dermal venous plexus (Plexus venosus dermalis profundus)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/free-nerve-ending/yRRHDGEgUzz1OIOHR7BshQ_Free_nerve_ending.jpg "Free nerve ending (Terminatio neuralis libera)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/hairs/pn7o7dwoM5j0tg6sS1YhA_Hairs.jpg "Hairs (Pili)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/subcutaneous-venous-plexus/E8WgYKt79F9OUKQMxLudw_Plexus_venosus_subcutaneous.jpg "Subcutaneous venous plexus (Plexus venosus subcutaneus)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/subcutaneous-arterial-plexus/bksnCnh82guYascP3vb6pg_Plexus_arteriosus_subcutaneous.jpg "Subcutaneous arterial plexus (Plexus arteriosus subcutaneus)"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/skin-4/By0VeaqOYYKN76KlZTgyGg_skin.jpg "Skin (Cutis)"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Skin |
Epidermis: Stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum, stratum basale Dermis: Papillary, reticular |
| Skin appendages | Hair, nails, sweat glands, sebaceous glands |
| Subcutaneous tissue | Adipose tissue beneath the dermis |
| Deep (muscular) fascia | Thick fascia between the subcutaneous tissue and underlying muscles |
Well done!
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Continue your learning
Continue your learning by focusing on the skin and sweat glands.
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