1. Dallas College
2. BIOL 2401
BIOL 2401 Unit #2 Exam (Ch. 5) The
Integumentary System Questions and
Answers 2026 Latest Update
What are the two components of the cutaneous membrane? Ans:
Epidermis (superficial epithelium)
Dermis (underlying area of connective tissue)
What are the functions of the integumentary system? Ans:
Protection (of underlying tissue, organs against impact, abrasion,
fluid loss, & chemical attack)
Excretion (of salts, water, & organic wastes by glands)
Thermoregulation (maintenance of normal body temp. through
insulation or evaporative cooling)
Production of melanin (protects underlying tissue from UV
radiation)
Prodution of keratin (protects against abrasion & repels water)
Synthesis of Vitamin D3 (a steroid converted to calcitriol, a
hormone important to normal calclium ion metabolism)
Storage of lipids (in adipocytes in the dermis & in adipose tissue in
the subcutaneous layer)
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, Detection of touch, pressure, pain, vibration, & temp. stimuli (&
relaying info. to nervous system)
Coordination of the immune response (to pathogens & cancers in
the skin)
What type of tissue is found in the epidermis? Ans: Stratified
squamous epithelium
Stratum basale Ans: AKA "stratum germinativum"
Deepest basal layer, attaches to basement membrane, contains
basal (stem) cells, melanocytes, & tactile (Merkel) cells
Hemidesmosomes attach cells to the layer of the basement
membrane that separates the epidermis from the areolar tissue of
the dermis
Forms epidermal ridges which extend into the dermis & are
adjacent to dermal papillae that extend into the epidermis
Basal cells divide to replace the mores superficial keratinocytes
that are shed at the epithelial surface
Tactile (Merkel) cells have a tactile disc that are sensitive to touch,
when pressured relase chemicals that stimulate sensory nerve
endings
Melanocytes are distributed throughout, will cell processes
extending into more superficial layers
Stratum spinosum Ans: Means "spiny layer" (8-10 layers of
keratinocytes)
Keratinocytes are bound together by desmosomes. Some cells in
this layer continue to divide.
© 2025 All rights reserved
2. BIOL 2401
BIOL 2401 Unit #2 Exam (Ch. 5) The
Integumentary System Questions and
Answers 2026 Latest Update
What are the two components of the cutaneous membrane? Ans:
Epidermis (superficial epithelium)
Dermis (underlying area of connective tissue)
What are the functions of the integumentary system? Ans:
Protection (of underlying tissue, organs against impact, abrasion,
fluid loss, & chemical attack)
Excretion (of salts, water, & organic wastes by glands)
Thermoregulation (maintenance of normal body temp. through
insulation or evaporative cooling)
Production of melanin (protects underlying tissue from UV
radiation)
Prodution of keratin (protects against abrasion & repels water)
Synthesis of Vitamin D3 (a steroid converted to calcitriol, a
hormone important to normal calclium ion metabolism)
Storage of lipids (in adipocytes in the dermis & in adipose tissue in
the subcutaneous layer)
© 2025 All rights reserved
, Detection of touch, pressure, pain, vibration, & temp. stimuli (&
relaying info. to nervous system)
Coordination of the immune response (to pathogens & cancers in
the skin)
What type of tissue is found in the epidermis? Ans: Stratified
squamous epithelium
Stratum basale Ans: AKA "stratum germinativum"
Deepest basal layer, attaches to basement membrane, contains
basal (stem) cells, melanocytes, & tactile (Merkel) cells
Hemidesmosomes attach cells to the layer of the basement
membrane that separates the epidermis from the areolar tissue of
the dermis
Forms epidermal ridges which extend into the dermis & are
adjacent to dermal papillae that extend into the epidermis
Basal cells divide to replace the mores superficial keratinocytes
that are shed at the epithelial surface
Tactile (Merkel) cells have a tactile disc that are sensitive to touch,
when pressured relase chemicals that stimulate sensory nerve
endings
Melanocytes are distributed throughout, will cell processes
extending into more superficial layers
Stratum spinosum Ans: Means "spiny layer" (8-10 layers of
keratinocytes)
Keratinocytes are bound together by desmosomes. Some cells in
this layer continue to divide.
© 2025 All rights reserved
