Week 6 — Readings & Resources · The Integumentary System

Course: Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2301 + BIOL 2101) · Silver Oak University (fictional sample) · Prof. Navarro
Objective covered: Objective 3 — Describe the structure and functions of the integumentary system (skin layers, accessory structures, glands) and its homeostatic role.

How to use this page

Everything here is a link to an external resource — open it in your browser, the same way you'd open a YouTube link. Nothing needs to be downloaded.

This week's load is deliberately light: 1 video + 2 short readings + 1 interactive atlas, grouped by the ideas from the lecture. Watch or read one item per group and you're ready for the quiz; do all of them and you'll be very comfortable. Total time is roughly 35–45 minutes if you do everything, far less if you pick one per group.

Order that matches the lecture: ① skin as an organ & the layers → ② the epidermal strata, melanin & keratin → ③ accessory structures, glands & the skin's functions (thermoregulation).

A habit to start now: before you trust any A&P claim — in these resources, in a chatbot, or anywhere — ask the questions from class: Is the epidermis being treated as avascular? Are the strata in the right order (deep→superficial)? Is melanin the pigment and keratin the toughness protein?

① The Skin as an Organ & Its Layers

Maps to Lecture Segments 2 & 4. The skin is the body's largest organ, built in layers — epidermis (avascular, on top), dermis (connective tissue, with the vessels/nerves/glands), and the hypodermis below (not part of the skin proper).

Video — "The Integumentary System, Part 1 - Skin Deep" (CrashCourse Anatomy & Physiology #6)
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orumw-PyNjw
Why it earns the click: an energetic ~10-minute tour of exactly our week — the skin as the largest organ, the epidermis and its layers, keratinocytes and melanocytes, and the dermis beneath. Watch the whole thing; it previews most of the week. (Part 2, "Skin Deeper" #7, covers hair, nails, glands, and thermoregulation: 🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN-x-zXXVwQ)
⏱ ~10 min

Reading — "Anatomy and Physiology 2e," §5.1 Layers of the Skin
🔗 https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/5-1-layers-of-the-skin
Why it's assigned: the cleanest plain-language statement that the epidermis is keratinized stratified squamous epithelium and avascular, the strata in order (deep→superficial), the role of keratinocytes and melanocytes, and the dermis (papillary + reticular) and hypodermis — a free online textbook page, no account needed.
⏱ ~12 min

② The Epidermal Strata, Melanin & Keratin

Maps to Lecture Segment 3. New cells are born deep (stratum basale) and pushed up to become dead, keratin-filled armor (stratum corneum); melanin (pigment/UV shield) and keratin (toughness) are made by different cells.

Reading — "Anatomy and Physiology 2e," §5.1 (Pigmentation section) + skim §5.2 Accessory Structures
🔗 https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/5-2-accessory-structures-of-the-skin
Why it's assigned: §5.1's pigmentation section nails melanin vs. keratin (which cell makes each, and why melanin protects against UV), and §5.2 covers the hair, nails, sebaceous (oil) glands, and sweat glands you'll match on the quiz. Use the "Previous"/"Next" links to move between §5.1 and §5.2.
⏱ ~10 min

③ Accessory Structures, Glands & the Skin's Functions

Maps to Lecture Segments 5–7. Hair, nails, and glands grow from the skin; the skin's jobs are protection, thermoregulation, sensation, vitamin D, and excretion — with thermoregulation as a negative-feedback loop.

Interactive — InnerBody "Integumentary System" (free, no download)
🔗 https://www.innerbody.com/anatomy/integumentary
Why it earns the click: a free, illustrated guide to the skin layers, hair, nails, and the glands (sebaceous, eccrine/apocrine sweat, ceruminous), plus clear sections on keratinization, temperature homeostasis (sweating + vasodilation/vasoconstriction), vitamin D synthesis, protection, and sensation — exactly our Segment 5–7 content. You'll use it in Lab 6 to identify the skin's structures; spend five minutes now getting comfortable with the layout.
⏱ ~8 min (browse)

Optional one-stop references (free online)

• Khan Academy — Human Anatomy & Physiology. A free unit with short articles and videos covering the body's organization, the skin, and homeostasis. A good place to return to all term.
  🔗 https://www.khanacademy.org/science/health-and-medicine/human-anatomy-and-physiology
• GetBodySmart — interactive A&P tutorials. Clean, labeled, interactive diagrams of each body system; handy when you want to drill structure names.
  🔗 https://www.getbodysmart.com/

Pick-one quick path (≈20 min total)

In a hurry? Do exactly these two and you'll be ready for the quiz:
1. Watch "The Integumentary System, Part 1 - Skin Deep" (the layers, keratinocytes/melanocytes, and the dermis).
2. Skim OpenStax §5.1 Layers of the Skin (the epidermis as avascular stratified squamous, the strata order, and melanin vs. keratin — the heart of the quiz).

Heads-up (links rot): these point to outside sites that occasionally move or rename pages. If a link ever fails, tell Prof. Navarro and use the OpenStax or Khan Academy references above in the meantime.