ANP 1106 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Holocrine, Water–Electrolyte Imbalance, Defensin
21 Jan 2013
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Document Summary
The skin and its derivatives (sweat, oil glands, hairs, nails etc. ) make up the integumentary system and serves several functions that are mostly protective. The outermost protective shield of the body: dermis. Tough, leathery and composed mostly of fibrous connective tissue. Nutrients reach the epidermis by diffusing through the tissue fluid from blood vessels in the dermis. Hypodermis is the subcutaneous tissue just deep to the skin. Called superficial fascia because it is superficial to the tough connective tissue wrapping (fascia) of the skeletal muscles and is made up of mostly adipose tissue. Anchors the skin to underlying structures (i. e. : muscles) loosely enough that the skin can slide relatively freely over those structures. Sliding skins protects us by ensuring that blows just glance off the body. Acts as a shock absorber and an insulator that reduces heat loss from the body. Hypodermis is the first part to thicken when a person gains weight.
