The
integumentary system is the
organ system that protects the body from various kinds of damage, such as loss of water or abrasion from outside. The system comprises the
skin and its appendages (including
hair,
scales,
feathers,
hooves, and
nails). The integumentary system has a variety of functions; it may serve to waterproof, cushion, and protect the deeper tissues, excrete wastes, and regulate
temperature, and is the attachment site for
sensory receptors to detect pain, sensation, pressure, and temperature. In most terrestrial vertebrates with significant exposure to sunlight, the integumentary system also provides for
vitamin D synthesis.