Which of the following statements about the accessory structures of the integumentary system is correct?

• A. Hair is composed of living keratinized cells and gets nourishment from a loop of capillaries called papilla.
• B. Nails are composed of a hard protein called keratin and are connected to the deeper tissue by the cuticle.
• C. The arrector pili muscle located in the epidermis contracts to produce goosebumps.
• D. Sweat glands help with waste removal in addition to temperature regulation.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the integumentary system and its accessory structures, which include hair, nails, sweat glands, and arrector pili muscles.
2. Step 2: Analyze the statement about hair: Hair is composed of keratinized cells, but these cells are dead, not living. The nourishment comes from the papilla, which contains capillaries supplying nutrients to the hair follicle.
3. Step 3: Examine the statement about nails: Nails are made of hard keratin, and the cuticle is a layer of skin that protects the nail root, connecting it to the surrounding tissue, not necessarily the deeper tissue.
4. Step 4: Review the statement about the arrector pili muscle: This muscle is located in the dermis (not the epidermis) and contracts to cause goosebumps by pulling hair upright.
5. Step 5: Confirm the correct statement: Sweat glands assist in temperature regulation by producing sweat and also help with waste removal by excreting substances like salts and urea through the sweat.