Chapter 5: The Integumentary System

Skin and its derivatives (sweat and oil glands, hairs, and nails) make up a complex set of organs that serves several functions, mostly protective

composed of epithelial cells - most outermost protective  shield of the body - structurally, a keratinized squamous epithelium consist of four distinct cell ttypes and four or five distinct layers

chief role is to produce keratin (fibrous protein that helps give the epidermis its protective properties

tough, leathery layer composed mostly of fibrous connective - making up the bulk of the skin

subcutaneous tissue just deep to the skin - besides storing fat, anchors the skin to the underlying structures, but loosely enough that skin can slide relatively freely over those structures