Integumentary System of the Leg and Foot (Male Posterior View)
The integumentary system of the lower extremities includes the skin, hair and nails of the legs, feet, and toes. The skin of this system is the first barrier against damage to the muscles of the legs, feet, and toes. Both men and women have hair on their legs and the tops of their feet, but this hair is somewhat thicker and coarser in men than in women. The toenails protect the toes from injury; they also enhance the sensitivity of the tips of the toes, although the nails themselves have no nerve endings.
The integumentary system is made up of the skin and its appendages (such as the nails and the hair); its primary function is to protect the body from damage; it is also involved in temperature regulation and in the sense of touch. Upon exposure to sunlight, the integumentary system is also the primary vehicle for synthesis of vitamin D.
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