The integumentary system is the organ system that protects the body from damage, comprising the skin and its appendages(including hair, scales, feathers, and nails). The integumentary system has a variety of functions; it may serve to waterproof, cushion, and protect the deeper tissues, excrete wastes, and regulate temperature, and is the attachment site for sensory receptors to detect pain, sensation, pressure, and temperature. In most terrestrial vertebrates with significant exposure to sunlight, the integumentary system also provides for vitamin D synthesis [Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integumentary_system].
Synonyms: integumentary system; integument
Hierarchy: 0
Parent: None
Comment on This Data Unit