Anatomy and Physiology / Unit 3: The Integumentary System
3.3 Skin Color, Appendages and Glands
Notes
Skin color is affected by melanin (yellow to brown to black), carotene (yellow-orange pigment from the diet) and hemoglobin in dermal blood (pink to red).
- Clinical color signs: erythema (redness; embarrassment, fever, inflammation), pallor (pale; anemia, low blood pressure, fear), jaundice (yellow; liver disorder, bilirubin buildup), cyanosis (bluish; poor oxygenation).
- Hair is made of keratinized dead cells and grows from a follicle. Arrector pili muscles raise hair (goose bumps). Nails are keratin plates.
- Eccrine sweat glands release watery sweat for cooling. Apocrine glands (armpits, groin) release thicker secretions that bacteria break down to cause odor. Sebaceous glands release sebum (oil) that softens skin and hair; blocked, infected glands cause acne.
Practice
A patient's skin and the whites of the eyes appear yellow. This is most likely:
Jaundice reflects bilirubin buildup, often from liver problems.
Which gland produces oil that lubricates skin and hair?
Sebaceous glands secrete sebum.
A person walking in a cold room gets goose bumps. Which structure is responsible?
The arrector pili is smooth muscle that pulls hair follicles upright.
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