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The System Of The Human Body

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Introduction

The integumentary system is one of the largest and most integral organs in the human body, encompassing many structures and playing key roles in the protection and general function of the body (Zimmermann, 2014). As with everything however; things can go wrong, failures can occur causing the system to function at a level below what is required of it. It is at this point where we must be active in our response to these faults and subsequently utilise knowledge and techniques in order to contain these failures and sustain human life.

Structure

Encompassing structures like; hair, nails, nerves and glands, the integumentary system is evidently a hugely important and crucial organ within the human body (Science Net Links, 2015). Despite containing all of these structures however, the main component of the integumentary system is the skin. Consisting of three layers; epidermis, dermis and hypodermis, the skin plays key functional roles in the control of temperature within the body, production of essential vitamins, housing of sensory receptors, secretion of waste products and protection of the body (Kerr, 2010).

The epidermis is the most superficial layer of the skin, composed of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, providing a waterproofed protective layer over the epidermis (Moore, Dalley, Agur 2010). The epidermis itself separates into several layers (Figure 1) at thicker areas of skin, for example palms of hands (Carola, Harley, Noback, 1992).
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