Module 8: The Integumentary System

The integumentary system, featuring the largest organ in the human body–the skin, is the first complete organ system you study in this course. As the integument is the physical barrier that separates the body’s internal and external environments, the fundamental relationship between structure and function becomes evident as you relate the histology of the skin to physiological functions, such as maintaining homeostasis. The skin is conspicuous, and learning to distinguish skin abnormalities from natural color differences will introduce you to looking for variation across human anatomy. In medicine, the specialty that studies and treats the integument is called dermatology.

("Skin anatomy" by Sheldahl is used with a CC BY-SA 4.0. license.)

1. Identify the components of the integumentary system. (CLO #1)
2. Describe the tissues and cells found in the epidermis and dermis layers of the integument. (CLO #1 and #2)
3. Explain the varied appearance of skin color. (CLO #2, #3, and #4)
4. Distinguish among the integumentary glands based on structure, location, and function. (CLO #2)
5. Relate the anatomy of the integumentary system to maintaining homeostasis. (CLO #3 and #4)
6. Name and describe the causes of common abnormal conditions of the integument. (CLO #2 and #4)

1. Read the Module 8 Introduction. (CLO #1 and #4), (MLO # 1)
   
2. Read chapter 9 in the textbook. (CLO #2, #3, and #4), (MLO #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6)
3. Test Your Knowledge sections are located at the end of each segment in the chapter. Answering the questions in these sections will aid in your knowledge to help you with the course. These questions will be relevant for information on testing and quizzes. (CLO #1, #2, #3, and #4), (MLO #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6)
4. Complete the exercises in the "Practice" section at the end of the chapter. (CLO #1, CLO #2, and CLO #3), (MLO #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6)
   
5. Complete the discussion activity. (CLO #1 and #2), (MLO #1 and #2)
6. Complete the case study exercise. (CLO #1, #2, and #4), (MLO #1, #2, and #5)
7. Complete the quiz. (CLO #1, #2, #3, and #4), (MLO #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6)

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