The Integumentary System Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is the integumentary system?
The integumentary system is an organ system consisting of the skin, hair, nails and exocrine glands
What is the function?
- Protects us from infection
- Keeps our body at the right temperature (37 degrees C)
- Covered in receptors so we can feel things
What is the two types or touch-skin receptors?
Mechanoreceptors
Thermoreceptors
What is a mechanoreceptor?
Tells you about sensations of pushing, pulling or movements
What is a thermoreceptor?
Tells you about sensations of temperature
How does the integumentary system protect from invasion?
-the skin covers the whole body and protects it from physical damage, microbe infection and dehydration
-it is difficult for microbes to penetrate the skins dry, dead outer cells
-the sebaceous glands produce oils which also help to kill microbes
What is the main role of adipose fat?
Insulation and energy store
What can happen if the body temperature is too low or too high?
It can cause denaturing of enzymes which we need for lots of processes
What is thermoregulation?
Maintaining the body’s temperature
What is the name for being too hot?
Hyperthermia
What is the name of being too cold?
Hypothermia
What is the hypothalamus?
The hypothalamus is a section of your brain that controls thermoregulation. When it sees your internal temperature becoming too low or too high, it sends signals to your muscles, organs, glands, and nervous system.
What is vasodilation?
When the arterioles dilate (enlarge) so more blood enters the skins dry capillaries and heat is lost
What is vasoconstriction?
When the arterioles get smaller to reduce blood going to the skin keeping core warm
What happens when you are sweating?
Sudorific glands secrete sweat which removes heat when water changes state
What happens when shivering?
Rapid contraction and relaxing of skeletal muscles. Heat produced by respiration
What is pilorelxation?
This means that hairs flatten (hot)
What is piloerection?
Hairs on the skin stand up (cold)
