Biology > Integumentary System > Flashcards

Integumentary System Flashcards

(52 cards)

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1
Q

What is the integumentary system?

A

The body’s outer covering composed of skin and its appendages (e.g hair, scales, nails)

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2
Q

What are the 5 functions of the integumentary system?

A

. Protection from microorganisms/mechanical damage

. Thermoregulation by producing sweat/pilo erection

. Excretion through sweating

. Perception (sensory) by pain/temperature/pressure

. Storage

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3
Q

What ways does the physical barrier contribute to the integumentary system?

A

. Rough, flexible shield, preventing pathogens entering

. Dead skin cells shed, so they take potential contaminants

. Protection from physical damage

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4
Q

What ways does the chemical barrier contribute to the integumentary system?

A

. Produces chemical substances to neutralise or inhibit pathogen growth

. Sebum

. Sweat

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5
Q

How does sebum act as a chemical barrier?

A

Produces an oily, acidic layer reducing bacterial and fungal growth

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6
Q

How does sweat act as a chemical barrier?

A

Contains antimicrobial peptides, actively killing bacteria and fungi

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7
Q

What 3 layers structure skin?

A

. Epidermis
. Dermis
. Subcutaneous layer

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8
Q

What does the epidermis do?

A

. Waterproof barrier - keeping pathogens out the body

. Elastic & gives skin colour

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9
Q

What does the dermis do?

A

Middle layer containing hair follicles, nerves, blood vessels and glands to regulate body temperature

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10
Q

What does the subcutaneous layer do?

A

. Connective tissue with high amounts of fat providing insulation and shape

. Wound healing

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11
Q

Name the 2 layers of the dermis

A

. Papillary layer
. Reticular layer

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12
Q

What does the papillary layer do in the dermis?

A

. Thin loose connective tissue that lies directly beneath the epidermis

. Contains blood vessels, nerve endings, touch receptors

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13
Q

What does the reticular layer do in the dermis?

A

. Thicker deeper layer

. Dense connective tissue providing strength and support

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14
Q

What are the 2 glands in the body?

A

. Exocrine glands
. Endocrine glands

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15
Q

What does the exocrine glands do?

A

Secrete substances through ducts (e.g tears, sweat, saliva)

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16
Q

What does the endocrine glands do?

A

Release hormones directly into the blood stream

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17
Q

What are the 3 exocrine glands?

A

. Sudoiferous
. Sebaceous
. Ceruminous

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18
Q

What does the sudoiferous gland secrete?

A

Sweat

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19
Q

What does the sebaceous gland secrete?

A

Sebum (keeps hair and skin lubricated)

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20
Q

What does the ceruminous gland secrete?

A

Earwax

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21
Q

What is hair, nails, claws & hooves made of?

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A

Keratin (tough fibrous protein)

22
Q

Name the 3 types of hair?

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A

. Guard hair
. Downy hair
. Vibrissae

23
Q

What 2 hairs grow from the same follicle?

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A

. Guard hair
. Downy hair

24
Q

What is ‘downy hair’?

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A

. Dense, fine, soft hairs that lie close to the skin making up the undercoat

. Good insulation

25
What is ‘guard hair’?
. Coarse, thick, long hairs making up the topcoat . Prevents injuries to the skin and influence animal’s appearance
26
What is ‘vibrassae’?
. Whiskers . Stiff, functional hair to sense the environment
27
What are hooved animals called?
Ungulates
28
Where does the hoof develop?
Distal phalange
29
Name the 2 types of hooves?
. Cloven hooves . Single hooves
30
What are hollow horns (goat & sheep) made from?
A cone of keratin which surrounds a mass of bone
31
What are rhino horns made from?
Keratinised cells without a core of bone
32
What are antlers made of and what are it’s characteristics?
. Bone . Young antlers covered in velvety skin which is rubbed off as they develop . Turns into compact bone tissue as they mature . Go through a shedding cycle annually
33
How is a birds bill structured?
. 2 bony projections (upper & lower mandibles) . Covered in a keratinised layer called the rhamphotheca
34
What are feathers made of?
Beta keratin
35
What are the 6 types of feather?
. Contour . Down . Semiplume . Flight . Bristle . Filoplume
36
What does the contour feather do?
. Give shape, colour, help insulate . Make birds streamlined
37
What does the down feather do?
. Soft and fluffy . Insulation - traps air
38
What does the semiplume feather do?
. Underneath contour feathers . Insulation
39
What do flight feathers do?
. In wings and tail . Strength for flight
40
What do bristle feathers do?
. Around eyes and mouth of insect-eating birds . Protect eyes, help funnel food into mouth
41
What does the filoplume feather do?
. Waterproof covering, insulation . Very small, attached to nerve endings . Send information to brain about feather alignment
42
What are the 7 functions of feathers?
. Flight . Protection . Warmth . Stealth . Displaying . Avoiding predation . Walking
43
What are claws?
Sharp, curved keratin appendages for defence, hunting or climbing
44
What are nails?
Flat, broader keratin structures that protect fingers and toes to enhance fine motor skills
45
How do nails grow?
. Nail matrix forms on top of the dermis . Root of the nail grows from a thick layer of matrix
46
How do claws and hooves grow?
Made of a section of the dermis that is covered in a layer of keratinised epithelium
47
What are 2 differences between nails and claws?
. Claws are curved, nails are flat . Claws grip, nails provide tactile sensation
48
What is pilo erection?
Goosebumps
49
What are horns?
A pair of non-branched protrusions from the head
50
What are antlers?
A pair of branched protrusions from the head
51
Define ‘endothermic’
. Animals that control their own body temperature . Warm blooded
52
Define ‘ectothermic’
. Animals that can NOT control their own body temperature . Cold blooded
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