Connected anatomical system that forms a barrier between an animal and its environment. In vertebrates, the integumental system consists of the epidermis, dermis plus associated glands and adnexa such as hair and scales. In invertebrates, the integumental system may include cuticle.
Comment:
[homology-note] "(...) the integument of many tetrapods is reinforced by a morphologically and structurally diverse assemblage of skeletal elements. These elements are widely understood to be derivatives of the once all-encompassing dermal skeleton of stem-gnathostomes (...).[well established][VHOG]" xsd:string {date_retrieved="2012-09-17", external_class="VHOG:0000403", ontology="VHOG", source="DOI:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2008.01043.x Vickaryous MK, Sire JY, The integumentary skeleton of tetrapods: origin, evolution, and development. J Anat (2009)", source="http://bgee.unil.ch/"}
Synonyms:
exact_synonym:
integumentary system
related_synonym:
body surface; dermal system; external covering of organism; integumentum commune; organism surface; surface