AMA 171 - Anatomy &

Physiology/Medical
Terminology/Pathology
2 Skin and Senses
 Skin: (Integumentary System)
Interesting fact: weighs 8-10lbs and covers an
area of 22 square feet (in an average adult)
Functions:
 Covers and protects the internal organs and
tissues
 Produces important secretions: oil and sweat
to lubricate and cool the body
 Contains nerves that are receptors for
sensations such as pain, temperature,
pressure and touch
 Thermoregulation of the body
Structure (layers of the skin):
 Epidermis: outermost layer made of squamous
epithelial cells; the basal layer of the epidermis is
always growing and multiplying

 Dermis: middle layer composed of blood and lymph

vessels, nerve fibers and accessory organs, such as
hair follicles, sweat and sebaceous glands

 Subcutaneous: deepest layer specializing in the

formation of fat; important in the protection of the
deeper tissues of the body, as a heat insulator and
for energy storage
 Accessory organs: hair, nails &
glands
 Hair: fibers composed of keratin, a hard protein

 Nails: hard keratin plates covering the last bones of each toe
and finger

Glands:
 Sebaceous (oil): found almost everywhere, except hands and
feet. Lubricate the skin through the hair follicle and minimize
water loss from the body; influenced by sex hormones

 Sweat: most numerous on hands and feet but found on almost all
body surfaces. Almost pure water with dissolved materials such
as salt; odor comes from bacteria, not sweat. Sweat
(perspiration) cools the body as it evaporates into the air.
 Sense Organs: Receptors that are
activated by stimuli from the
external or internal environment.
 Eye:light rays enter the eye and are
sent to the cerebral cortex of the
brain, fusing to form a visual sensation
with three-dimensional effect

 Ear:sound waves are received by the

ear and sent to the auditory region of
the brain in the cerebral cortex
 Structure of the eye
 Cornea: fibrous tissue covering pupil and iris, light enters here first, is bent or
refracted

 Anterior chamber: contains aqueous humor a fluid produced by the ciliary body
to nourish the eye and help maintain its shape

 Pupil: dark center of the eye, light rays enter here after passing through the
cornea

 Iris: colored portion of the eye, contains muscles that constrict pupil to regulate
light

 Conjuctiva: membrane that lines the eye and eyelids; clear and colorless unless
irritated

 Sclera: white of the eye, provides nourishment via blood vessels

 Choroid: dark brown membrane inside of sclera, contains blood vessels

 Lens: changes shape to refract light and to flatten or round the lens for
distance or close vision (accommodation)
 Structure of the eye cont…
 Ciliary body: muscles that control the lens

 Vitreous humor: jelly-like fluid that helps maintain eye’s shape

 Retina: sensitive nerve layer of the eye, contains rods and cones
that are receptor cells responsible for color and central vision

 Optic nerve: chemical change from rods and cones cause nerve
impulses to send visual signal to brain through this nerve

 Optic disc: region where optic nerve meets the retina

 Macula: area that contains the fovea centralis

 Fovea centralis: depression in macula that is the location of the

sharpest vision in the eye
Structure of the ear: three regions
of the
Outer ear: conducts sound waves
ear
 Pinna (auricle): flap of the ear
 External auditory meatus (auditory canal): ear canal that
secretes ceruman (ear wax)

Middle ear: conducts sound waves

 Tympanic membrane (eardrum): sounds waves make this
vibrate
 Ossicles: three small bones that are vibrated by the sound
on the tympanic membrane: Maleus, Incus & Stapes
 Oval window: vibration from stapes touches this membrane
that separates the middle and inner ear

Inner ear (labyrinth): receives auditory waves and relays them

to the brain
 Cochlea: looks like a shell; contains liquids that transmit the
sound waves/vibrations
 Auditory nerve fibers: connect the cochlea to the brain so
the brain “hears” sounds