Pizza

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM LAB

Activity 1: Human Skin

PURPOSE

What is the purpose of this activity? (1 point)

MATERIALS

Dissection Microscope

Centimeter Ruler (transparent)

PROCEDURE

1. Palm of hand and Back of hand

a. Look at your hand, back and front. Pull on the skin of the back of your hand and the palm.

b. Using a dissection microscope or magnifying glass, examine the skin surface of your palm.

c. Using a dissection microscope or magnifying glass, examine the skin surface of the back of your hand.

d. In your observations look for any regular patterns that you see. You will need to describe all that you see.

e. Examine any cuts or scars that may be present on your skin. In your observations describe the appearance of these features.

f. On the back of your hand, you will find fine hairs. Examine the point at which the hair protrudes from the skin. Describe the area immediately around the hair and the angle at which the hair leaves the skin.

2. Fingernails

a. Examine the fingernails. Draw what you see in the observations sections.

3. Hair and hair root

a. Use a compound microscope to look at a hair. Examine the roots, the hair shaft and split ends. Draw what you see in your observations.

OBSERVATIONS

1. Palm and backhand under a microscope

a. Is the skin on the back of your hand firmly attached to the underlying tissues, or can it be lifted away? (1 point)

b. How does this compare with the skin on the palm of your hand? (1 point)

c. Why do you think the skin at this point on the body acts this way? (2 points)

d. Draw a diagram of a small area (3cm x 3cm) on the back of your hand. (1 point)

e. Draw a diagram of a small area (3cm x 3cm) on the palm of your hand. (1 point)

f. What is different in the patterns on the palm and...