Structure and Functions of Skin – PST04103 Human Anatomy and Physiology

NTA Level 4 • Semester 1 • PST04103

Structure and Functions of Skin

Human Anatomy and Physiology • Source Session/Topic 11
Full source-text version: all educational wording from the extracted learning source is retained; only presenter/tutor metadata and web-layout noise are removed, while formatting is improved for readability.

Session 11: Structure and Functions of Skin

Total Session Time: 60 minutes

• None

Students Learning Tasks

By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:

• Define Skin
• Describe the Structure of the Skin
• Explain the Functions of the Skin

Resources Needed:

• Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape
• Black/white board, chalk and whiteboard markers
• Overhead Projector and Transparencies or Slide Projector/LCD and Computer
• Handout 11.1: Layers of the Skin

SESSION OVERVIEW

|Step |Time |Activity/ |Content |

| | |Method | |

|1 |05 minutes |Presentation |Introduction, Learning Tasks |

|2 |05 minutes |Presentation |Definition of the skin |

| | |buzzing | |

|3 |15 minutes |Presentation |Structure of the Skin |

|4 |25 minutes |Presentation | Functions of the Skin |

| | |Brainstorming | |

|5 |05 minutes |Presentation |Key Points |

|6 |05 minutes |Presentation |Evaluation |

SESSION CONTENTS

STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5 minutes)

READ or ASK students to read the learning tasks and clarify

ASK students if they have any questions before continuing

STEP2: Definition of the Skin (05minutes)

|Activity: Buzzing (5 minutes) |

| |

|ASK students to pair up and buzz on the following question for 2 |

|minutes |

| |

|What is the skin? |

| |

|ALLOW few pairs to respond and let other pairs to add on points not |

|mentioned |

| |

|WRITE their response on the flip chart/board |

| |

|CLARIFY and SUMMARIZE by using the content below |

Skin:

• Is the thin layer of tissue forming the natural outer covering of the

body of a person or animal

o The body's outer covering, which protects against heat and light,

injury, and infection.

o Skin regulates body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D.

o The skin, which weighs about 6 pounds, is the body's largest organ.

STEP 3: Structure of the Skin (15minutes)

• Integumentary means covering, it covers the outside of the body.
• The integumentary system consists of the skin and the accessory

structures such as hair nails and glands.

• The appearance of the integumentary system can indicate physiological

imbalances in the body.

• Disorders of other parts of the body can be reflected there.

Structure of the skin

• The skin is made up of the two major tissue layers

o Dermis

o Epidermis

Dermis

• The dermis is divided into two layers

o The deeper reticular layer, is dense irregular connective tissue, is

the main layer of the dermis consisting of layers of interlacing

collagen fibers

o This layer is of elastic and collagens are oriented more in some

areas than others creating tension lines (cleavage lines) and

wrinkle lines in the skin

o The more superficial papillary is called from projections called

papillae that extend toward the epidermis

o It is less dense than reticular and sometimes called loose

connective tissue, it also contain large number of blood vessels

o These fibers provide skin tone and account for the strength and

toughness of the skin

o The pattern of collagen fibers in a particular region determines the

characteristic

o The deep layer of the dermis contains hair follicles, with their

associated smooth arrector muscles and sebaceous glands

o Contraction of the arrector muscles erects the hairs (causing goose

bumps), thereby compressing the sebaceous glands and helping them

secrete their oily product onto the skin

o The dermis composed of , nerve endings, hair follicles, smooth

muscles, glands, and lymphatic vessels

o Skin ligaments, consisting of numerous small fibrous bands, extend

through the subcutaneous tissue and attach the deep surface of the

dermis to the underlying deep fascia

o The length and density of these ligaments determine the mobility of

the skin over deep structures

[pic]Handout 11.1: Layers of the Skin

Epidermis:

• A keratinized stratified (layered) epithelium with a tough outer surface

composed of keratin (a fibrous protein).

• The epidermis is made up of several layers (strata of cells) which

extends from the deepest germinative layer to the surface stratum corneum

namely:

o Basal layer (stratum basale)

o Spinous or prickle cell layer (stratum spinosum)

o Granular layer (stratum granulosum)

o Clear layer (stratum lucidum)

o And cornified layer (stratum corneum)

• The outer layer of the epidermis is continuously or rubbed away with

replacement of new cells from the basal layer.

• The cells of epidermis include:

o Most of the cells are called keratinocytes because they produce

protein called keratin

o Melanocytes which contribute to skin colour

o Langerhans’ cells which are part of immune system

o Merkel’s which are specialized epidermal cells associated with nerve

endings responsible for detecting light touch and superficial

pressure

o This process renews the epidermis of the entire body every 25 to 45

days

o The epidermis is avascular (no blood vessels or lymphatics) and is

nourished by the vessels in the underlying dermis

o The skin is supplied by afferent nerve endings that are sensitive to

touch, irritation (pain), and temperature

o Most nerve terminals are in the dermis, but a few penetrate the

epidermis

[pic]

Source: Standring, 2005

Figure 11.1: The

Epidermis

STEP 4: Functions of the Skin (25minutes)

|Activity: Brainstorming (5 minutes) |

| |

|Ask students to brainstorm on the following question: |

| |

|What are the functions of the skin? |

| |

|ALLOW few students to respond |

| |

|WRITE their responses on the flip chart/ board |

| |

|CLARIFY and SUMMARISE by using the content below |

• Protection for the body from environmental effects, such as:

o Abrasions

o Melanin absorb ultraviolet light and protect underlying tissue

o Skin prevent the entry of microorganisms and other harmful substances

o Prevent dehydration by reducing water loss from the body because its

lipids act as barrier to the diffusion of water

o Nail protect the ends of the digits from damage and can be used in

defence

o Hair follicles act as insulator and protect from ultraviolet light

• Temperature regulation through sweat glands, blood vessels and fat

deposits

• Sensation , the integumentary system has sensory receptors that can

detect heat, cold, pain, touch, temperature and pressure)

• Synthesis and storage of vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet light, the

skin produces a molecule that can be transformed into vitamin D

• Excretion of small amount of waste products are lost through the skin and

in gland secretions

STEP 5: Key Points (05minutes)

• The integumentary system consists of the skin and the accessory

structures such as hair nails and glands

• The functions of the skin includes synthesis and storage of vitamin D

when exposed to ultraviolet light and excretion of small amount of waste

products are lost through the skin and in gland secretions

• Skin is the thin layer of tissue forming the natural outer covering of

the body of a person or animal

• The cells of epidermis include: keratinocytes because they produce

protein called keratin, Melanocytes which contribute to skin colour,

Langerhans’ cells which are part of immune system and Merkel’s which are

specialized epidermal cells associated with nerve endings responsible for

detecting light touch and superficial pressure

STEP 6: Evaluation (05 minutes)

• What is the skin?
• What are the structure of the skin?
• What are the functions of the skin?

References

Seeley, R. R., Stephens, T. D., &Tate, P. (2003). Anatomy and Physiology.

New York:

McGraw-Hill.

Shier, A., Butler, J., & Lewis, R. (2004). Hole’s Human Anatomy &

Physiology. New York:

McGraw-Hill.

Standring, S. (2008). Grays’s Anatomy The anatomical basis of clinical

practice. United

Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elservier.

Thibodeau, G. A., & Patton, K. T. (1999). Anatomy & Physiology. Saint

Louis: Mosby, Von

Hoffman Press, Inc.

Waugh, A., & Grant, A. (2006). Ross and Willson Anatomy and physiology in

Health and

illness. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elservier.

|[pic] |Handout 11.1: Layers of the skin |

[pic]

Source: Standring, 2005

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