The Integumentary System
The Integumentary System THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM Skin is the system of the body that makes an individual beautiful! Skin/fur coloration allows animals to be camouflaged. *The skin is the largest organ of the body. The skin and its derivatives (hair, nails, sweat and oil glands) make up the integumentary system. The total surface area of the skin is about 1.8 m² and its total weight is about 11 kg. The skin gives us our appearance and shape. Anatomy of the Skin • Skin is made up of two layers that cover a third fatty layer. The outer layer is called the epidermis; it is a tough protective layer. The second layer (located under the epidermis) is called the dermis; it contains nerve endings, sweat glands, oil glands, and hair follicles. Under these two skin layers is a fatty layer called the subcutaneous tissue, or hypodermis. 1 • The dermis is home to the oil glands. These are also called sebaceous glands, and they are always producing sebum. Sebum is your skin's own natural oil. It rises to the surface of your epidermis to keep your skin lubricated and protected. It also makes your skin waterproof. • Skin is alive! It's made of many thin sheets of flat, stacked cells. Older cells are constantly being pushed to the surface by new cells, which grow from below. When the old ones reach the top, they become wider and flatter as they get rubbed and worn by all your activity. And, sooner or later, they end up popping off like tiles blown from a roof in a strong wind.
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