Integumentary+System

= Integumentary System =

Functions
One of the functions of the integumentary system is to protect our organs. It also protects against infectious diseases, protects against dehydration, against dramatic changes in your body temperature. Helps get rid of waste materials through precipitation. It protects you against sunburns. It makes vitamin D for your body, and stores water, fat, and vitamin D. In animals it may help to waterproof, cushion, and protect their deep tissues. It separates and informs the body about it's surroundings.The human Integumentary system is an external body covering, but it is also much more. It protects, nourishes, and cushions the body from damage. It protects our body from the outside world. Some Other Functions
 * Protects the body's internal living tissues and organs
 * Protects against invasion by infectious organisms
 * Protects the body from dehydration
 * Protects the body against abrupt changes in temperature
 * Helps dispose of waste materials
 * Acts as a receptor for touch, pressure, pain, heat, and cold
 * Stores water and fat

Major Organs
The major organs of the Integumentary System are hair, nails, scales, and sweat glands. The purpose of nails is to get better grip on things, to be able to pry things easier, and they protect the ends of our fingers. The scales are just dead skin cells. The purpose of sweat glands is that they produce a watery substance that helps control body temperature.

Skin Layers
The Dermis is the bottom-most, thick inner layer of skin,
 * Dermis**

Subcutaneous tissue The subcutaneous tissue or subcutis is the layer of tissue directly underlying the cutis.

Epidermis The epidermis is the thin outer layer of skin that contains melanin which gives skin its color and allows for the skin to tan.

Hair
Hair is one of the major organs. Hair is an outgrowth of protein, found only on mammals. Though it grows from hair follicles deep in the dermis. Hair of non-human mammal species is commonly referred to as fur. Humans have three different types of hair: Lanug, the fine hair that covers nearly the entire body of fetuses. Vellus hair, the short, fine, "peach fuzz" body hair that grows in most places on the human body in both sexes Terminal hair, the fully developed hair, which is generally longer, coarser,thicker, and darker than vellus hair. Hair is genetically programmed to be straight, curly or wavy, and it can change over time.

How it works
The primary function of the integumentary system is to protect the other systems from the external environment. It is closely aligned with the nervous system, and can even be thought of as an extension of it.

Disorders of the integumentary system
Some disorders of the Integumentary System are chicken pox, acne, skin cancer, and herpes simplex. Chicken pox and herpes simplex are contagious, but acne and skin caner aren't. Acne is a non contagious disease in your skin which causes zits to appear. Chicken pox is a contagious skin condition which makes rashes appear that are very itchy. Herpes simplex is a contagious disease which causes open sores around the lip and gums. Skin cancer is a type of cancer in which the cancer is in your skin and its not contagious. All of those are only a few of the many disorders of the integumentary system.