ANAT 025 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Stratified Squamous Epithelium, Moe Williams, Cholecalciferol
Document Summary
The integument is the body"s largest organ. The integument has an area that ranges between 1. 5 2. 0 m^2 and accounts for 7- The integument"s thickness ranges between 1. 5 4. 0 mm or more, depending on body location. Consists of two distinct layers: epidermis a layer of stratified squamous epithelium, dermis a deeper layer of dense irregular and areolar (loose) connective tissue. Protection the skin acts as a physical barrier that protects the entire body from physical injury, trauma, chemicals agents, pathogens, uv (melanocytes producing melanin), and excessive temperature. Prevention of water loss the epidermis is water resistant and helps prevent unnecessary water loss. When skin is severely burned, a primary danger is dehydration, because the individual has lost the protective skin barrier and water can escape from body tissues. Immune defense the epidermis contains epidermal dendritic cells, or langerhans cells, which initiates an immune response by phagocytizing pathogens that have penetrated the epidermis.