The Integumentary System

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The Integumentary System
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The Integumentary System

• The system of skin, hair and nails.
• All that we see of this system is made of dead
  cells.

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The Integumentary System
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The Integumentary System

• The skin is the largest organ.
• It weighs about 6 pounds.

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The Integumentary System

• The five main protective functions of the
  Integumentary System are

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The Integumentary System

• 1. Serving as a barrier against infection and
  injury

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The Integumentary System

• 2. Helping to regulate body temperature

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The Integumentary System

• 3. Removing waste products from the body

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The Integumentary System

• 4. Providing protection against ultraviolet
  radiation from the sun

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The Integumentary System

• 5. Producing vitamin D

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The Integumentary System

• The skin contains cells called melanocytes
• Melanocytes produce a chemical that gives skin
  its color, called melanin

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The Integumentary System

• The amount of melanin produced depends on two
  factors
• 1. Heredity
• 2. Exposure to the sun

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The Integumentary System

• Too much sun can cause melanoma, skin cancer

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The Integumentary System

• Nails protect the ends of our fingers and toes

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The Integumentary System

• Nails grow at a rate of 0.5 to 1.2 mm per day,
  with fingernails growing faster than toenails.