Integumentary system
Learning objectives
After completing this study unit you will be able to:
- Learn the components of the integumentary system.
- Discover the structure and function of each of the components of the system.
- Understand the basic functions of the integumentary system as a whole.
Watch videos
The integumentary system forms 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.
To improve your understanding of integumentary system terminology, take a closer look at some commonly used roots, prefixes and suffixes related to the integumentary system in the video below.
Memorize the epidermal layers of the skin easily with the help of this video.
Take a quiz
Reinforce your knowledge with the quiz below.
To mix things up and choose your own topics to get quizzed on, try out our customizable quiz.
Download the following PDF worksheets and learn the parts of the integumentary system.
Browse atlas
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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/skin-4/By0VeaqOYYKN76KlZTgyGg_skin.jpg "Skin (Cutis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
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: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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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 "Fascia; Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
: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); Image: Paul Kim"){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); Image: Paul Kim"){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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