Lecture 8 The Integument

KK or H&G Chapter 6 + KK p. 501

snapping turtle

The Integument is:

Morphologically Compound Epidermis Dermis

Embryologically Compound

Ectoderm
Mesoderm (dermatome, mesenchyme) plus minor contributions from neural crests cells
KK. 6.1, H&G 6.1

Functions of the Integument

Protection Water balance Reserve food storage Heat regulation Sensory Excretion Secretion Respiration Locomotion Communication Reproduction
mandrill

Generalized Vertebrate Integument

KK 6.2, H&G 6.1

The epidermis produces mucus in fishes and keratin in tetrapods. Glands are also from the epidermis, although they may penetrate into the dermis. Melanophores are brown/black pigment cells in the epidermis containing melanin.

Generalized Vertebrate Integument

KK 6.2, H&G 6.1

The Dermis may contain blood vessels, nerve endings, fat bodies, collagen and elastic fibres, chromatophores, and bone. Chromatophores are more diverse in pigmentation than melanophores, often can change quickly, and are typically found in ectotherms.

Bony Armour of Ostracoderms

KK 6.8, H&G 6.4

The armour of ancient fishes was enamel covering dentin, covering bone. Enamel is composed of the mineral apatite. Dentin is also mostly apatite, but is infused with protein (collagen) fibres.

Scales of Modern Fishes

Scales of modern fishes are thought to be derived from ostracoderm armour (cosmoid scales). In Osteicthyes with bony (ganoid) scales, e.g., gar, bowfin, the dentin layer is missing. In teleosts, both the enamel and dentin are missing, and only bone with no apatite and lots of collagen remains. In shark scales (dermal denticles or placoid scales) all three layers remain.

Fish Integument as seen in teleosts

The epidermis is generally thin and well supplied with unicellular mucous glands (club cells). The scale is in the dermis. Recall that the dermis can produce bone, but the epidermis never does.
KK 6.10, H&G 6.2

Elasmoid scale from a mature Atlantic Salmon. Fisheries biologists can use such scales to determine the fishs age, when it went to sea, and how many times it has returned to spawn.

Amphibian Integument
Amphibian integument is like that of fish, but poison glands are common and there are no scales. Many poisonous forms are brightly coloured with chromatophores.

KK 6.12, H&G 6.7

Reptile Integument

KK6.12, H&G 6.8 There are no mucous glands in amniotes, although scent glands may be present. Scales are epidermal, not dermal, and are keratin rather than bone. They are not homologous with fish scales Larger scales on the ventral surface of snakes or over dermal bones in turtles and crocodiles, are called scutes. Dermal bones under scutes are called osteoderms.

Snake Skin

Nails, Claws and Hooves

An amniote feature that begins in the reptiles is the presence of hard keratin structures on the tips of the digits. These carry on in birds and mammals in various forms. They are made of keratin, and epidermal in origin.

On the underside of the digit there may be some sort of friction pad, also composed of keratin. These pads in humans are uniquely sculptured fingerprints.

KK 6.23

Bird Integument
Aves have a thinly keratinized skin, otherwise generally similar that of reptiles. They have reptile-like keratin scales on their legs, and feathers are thought to be derived from keratin scales. They also have claws and friction pads on their feet. Avian innovations: in addition to feathers of various kinds, they have a keratin beak and a uropygial gland under the tail for grooming the feathers.
KK 6.15, H&G 6.10, 6.11

Despite that feathers seem to come from deep in the integument, they are actually produced from the epidermis like all keratin structures. The epidermis penetrates the feather follicle and covers the dermal papilla around which a new feather develops.

KK 6.16, H&G 6.12

Mammalian Integument

Epidermal Glands - sebacious glands - sweat glands - mammary glands - scent glands

Hair is also made of keratin, but is not considered to be homologous to reptilian scales. KK 6.20, H&G 6.13

Mammary Glands
KK 6.22, H&G 6.14 Mammary glands arise from ectoderm that descends along 2 folds or milk lines in the embryo. Monotreme

Keratin structures in mammals

hair, including sensory bristles pangolin scales (e.g. pangolin, armadillo) unguis (claws, nails, hooves) true horns (e.g. cow, antelope) rhinocerus horn baleen (baleen whales) quills (porcupine, hedgehog, echidna)
echidna

keratin horns

bony imposters

Teeth
Teeth are also structures of the integument. They have fundamentally the same structure as the armour of ancient fishes and placoid scales of sharks. Teeth arise at the interface between the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis produces the enamel from above, and the dermis produces the dentin from below.

KK 6.32 Continuous formation of shark teeth.

Mammalian Tooth Development

Mammalian teeth also begin as a fold in the margin of the jaw, even though they are anchored in bone rather than integument. Special cells of the epidermis (ameloblasts) produce enamel, while odonoblasts from the dermis secrete dentine. Again, the tooth grows between epidermis and dermis. Neural crest contributes as well. KK 13.8, H&G 7.2