1 List the components of the integumentary system.2 Name the two layers of the skin and state the type of tissue found in each.3 Explain how the epidermis receives nourishment.4 Compare the structure of the two layers of the dermis.5 Describe the factors that contribute to skin colour.

The components of the integumentary system include the skin, hair, nails, glands (such as sweat and sebaceous glands), and nerves.

The two layers of the skin are the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is composed of stratified squamous epithelial tissue, while the dermis is made up of dense irregular connective tissue.

The epidermis receives nourishment through a process called diffusion. Because it does not have its own blood supply, nutrients and oxygen diffuse from the dermis into the epidermis.

The dermis is divided into two layers: the papillary layer and the reticular layer. The papillary layer is the uppermost layer and is composed of loose, areolar connective tissue. It contains capillaries, lymphatic vessels, and sensory neurons. The reticular layer is the deeper and thicker layer of the dermis, composed of dense irregular connective tissue, and it contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves.

Several factors contribute to skin color, including the amount and type of melanin produced by melanocytes in the epidermis, the amount of carotene in the dermis and hypodermis, and the degree of vascularization (the concentration of blood vessels) in the dermis. Other factors can include exposure to sunlight and certain medical conditions.