Tyler Bennett

Integumentary system Lab Report

Introduction

In this lab, we took a close look at the Integumentary system, the largest organ of the
body, and the one with one of the most important roles. The integumentary system
includes the Epidermis and the Dermis, which are the two outermost layers of the skin.
The Epidermis is made up of six layers the stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum
granulosum, stratum spinosum, and the stratum basale (see figure 1), with a basement
membrane residing between the epidermis and the dermis, to keep the two separated.
The skin also has hair that resides in the dermis and moves through the epidermis. The
skin provides the barrier between the outside world and the inside of your body, and
each layer of the skin is made up of the older cells, which are constantly pushed out by
the creation of more cells. In these layers of skin, runs ducts that excrete sweat
throughout the body to regulate body temperature. These are found throughout your
entire body, and run along the hair and hair follicles.
The integumentary system is a system that has multiple different jobs, and all are
important. The skin is tasked with the job of thermoregulation, meaning that it is
detrimental in keeping the bodies temperature at a certain degree, to avoid any damage
to the body. It is important that the body keep from getting overheated. It does this the
sweat glands located all throughout the body. The sweat glands excrete water and other
liquids to the surface of the skin to cool the skin, and if the skin is too cold, the blood will
quickly run blood to the area. This blood is responsible for heating the area back to its
core temperature.
The other job of the integumentary system is to provide information to the body by way
of sensory nerves that is found all over the body. These nerves feel things that are
touching the body and send messages to the brain, where the brain reads it to
understand what exactly it is touching and what to do with it. The amount of nerves vary
throughout the body, with a large portion of the being found in the hand and fingertips.
In figure 6, we go over a situation, where Judys mole changes into something that is a
little more worrying. This gives an interesting outlook on the body and how fragile it can
be. Melanoma is one of the leading forms of cancer, and can be deadly if not treated
correctly. The skin, although one of the first lines of protection, is not always impervious
to the dangers of the outside world, with it be UV rays, or bacteria and viruses, the skin

is still one the largest organ in the body, meaning that if it is not taken care of in the
correct manner, a lot can go wrong with the organ.

Figure 1 - Skin Histology picture - The epidermis is made up of many different layers of
cells that are used to protect the inside of the body from foreign particles, retain liquids,
regulate body temperature, and protect from diseases. These cells are constantly being
created and destroyed, with older, dead cells being pushed to the top, and newer cells
being found at the bottom. It is also made up of the hair, skin, glands, nerves ,and nails.
It is the largest organ of the human body, and one of the most important in keeping our
body safe and well in homeostasis. It is one of the only organs that constantly deal with
agents of the outside world, including bacteria and viruses, and also acts as an
information highway between the brain and the outside world.

Figure 2 - Eccrine Sweat Gland Density Graph - This graph shows, in relation to some
other parts of the body, the density of Eccrine sweat glands in the body. Each part of
the body varies, with the highest being found in the fingertip and the back of the
forearm, where hair resides, possibly affecting the amount of sweat glands in this area.
The least was found in the palm of the hand. Sweat glands are tasked with the job of
excreting liquids over the Epidermis, when the body is uncomfortable. Normally this
happens when a person is nervous, or when they are completing physical activities that
heightens the temperature of the body. This breaks homeostasis, so the body sweats,
cooling the core temperature of the body.

Figure 3 - Data Skin Temperature and Recovery Rate - This graph looks at the recovery
rate of the skin after it is affected by an outside heat source, whether it be cold or hot.
Based on the calculations, everyone had a different base temperature that varied, as
did the recovery rate of each persons temperature. As it is evident in the graphs, each
area takes a different amount of time to recover to the original temperature and it seems
that each is affected by the distance away from the body core. This goes back to the
idea that everyone is made special and that their body detects changes and fixes them
at different speeds.

Figure 4 - Two Point Discrimination Data - This data compares some of the areas of the
body and how sensitive they are to others. In this graph the most sensitive area of the
body is the upper lip, while the front of the lower leg is the least sensitive part on the
graph. This shows the varying amount of skin receptors in the body and how they can
affect what you feel and how you feel it.

Figure 5 - Homunculus Drawing - This is a drawing that represents the sensitivity of the
body, with the largest being the most sensitive, and the smallest being the least
sensitive. This represents the distance between each sensory nerve in the skin. These
nerves tell the body and the nervous system what it is touching, including the feel and
texture of it. Besides the eyes, it is very important in gathering data from the outside
world.

Figure 6 - Integumentary Infographic - This is a infographic over Melanoma, one of the

common forms of cancer, that is found on the surface of the skin. In the infographic,
Judy is tanning and notices that a mole that she has had, changed in shape, color, size.
These are all red flags that a mole has become cancerous and that you should see your
physician as soon as possible. It is important that we learn from her mistake, that our
body is sensitive to the outside world and we must be wary when dealing with things
that we know can harm the body.

APA Citations
Common Moles, Dysplastic Nevi, and Risk of Melanoma. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18,
2016, from https://www.cancer.gov/types/skin/moles-fact-sheet#q2

Staff, B. M. (n.d.). Melanoma. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/melanoma/basics/risk-factors/con-200260
09

Written by Heidi Godman Medically Reviewed on March 17, 2014 by George Krucik, MD,
MBA. (n.d.). What Are the Prognosis and Survival Rates for Melanoma by Stage?
Retrieved October 18, 2016, from
http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/melanoma-prognosis-and-survival-rates

Miskowski, J., & Galbaith, A. (2002, September 23). Not An Old Person's Disease. Not
An Old Person's Disease. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6kDFi3UxcHXX1dFUGpGSkYyblE/view

E. P. (2010, May 19). Touch. 1-10. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6kDFi3UxcHXYm8xclZPbl9mWGs/view.