The integumentary system consists of skin, hair, nails, and nerves. As you learn about the various diseases that affect the integumentary system, it is important for you to understand the structures that can be affected by disease. Complete this lab to become familiar with a healthy system and to identify diseases related to the skin.

Provide brief answers to the following questions to help you get acquainted with the basic functions of a healthy integumentary system. Refer to Ch. 19 in Microbiology: Principles and Explorations.

1.     How does the integumentary system prevent disease?

2.     How do sweat, sebaceous (oil), and mucus secretions help prevent disease?

3.     Which types of bacteria are considered normal skin microflora?

4.    Suppose a sample of bacteria was taken from your skin. If you were to perform a Gram stain on the sample, what is the likely Gram reaction – positive or negative? Explain your answer.

Identify the selected integumentary system structures in the following diagram:

Access the Public Diseases & Conditions A-Z Index on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/DiseasesConditions/ Scroll down to the section titled Top Requested Diseases & Conditions. Review the list of diseases that the general public is most frequently requesting information about. You will notice some familiar diseases from your assigned readings. Click on at least one microbe-related skin disease (excluding sexually transmitted diseases) and complete the following activity.

Read the information on the CDC site and provide a brief, 1-2 paragraph summary of the skin condition. Include the following in your description:

·         The skin condition

·         The microbe causing the condition

·         Which structures of the integumentary system are affected—Use one or more structures included in Part Two.

·         Who is at risk

·         How serious the disease is

[Type your paragraph in the space below]

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