How to define integration over the boundary of a curve?

When learning about Stokes' theorem ($\int_{\partial \Omega} \omega=\int_{\Omega} \mathrm d \omega$), we are told that it is just a generalization of the 2nd Fundamental Theorem of Calculus $(\int_a^b F'(x)dx= F(b)-F(a))$. In particular, we are told that we can consider $F(b) - F(a)$ to be an integral over the boundary of the curve $y=F'(x), x \in [a, b]$ -- the boundary is then the disconnected set of points $\{a, b\}$ with an orientation "from $a$ to $b$".
Edit: user8268 indicates that this orientation should $-a$ and $+b$, though I'm not entirely sure why -- other than it makes the equation work.

But is this really integration? Doesn't the "region of integration" of a Riemann integral have to be connected?
Edit: It's not really a region if it's not connected, but I don't know what else to call it.

Is there any way to define a Riemann (or possibly Lebesgue) integral $\int_A f(x)dx$ over $A=\{a,b : a \neq b\}$ (with some orientation)?

• one should add that the boundary of $[a,b]$ (in this context) is $\{a\}$ with negative orientation plus $\{b\}$ with positive orientation - whence the minus in $f(b)-f(a)$ – user8268 Jul 2 '14 at 16:44
• A classical Riemann integral, probably not. But this is to be expected: since we are talking about differential forms, we should be using the definition of integration of differential forms. From that perspective it should be straightforward (although I admit I have no differential geometric background at all, so I can't explain it.) – Eric Stucky Jul 2 '14 at 19:54
• Integration of a $0$-form (i.e., a smooth function) over a $0$-chain (i.e., a finite integer linear combination of points) is customarily defined by evaluation. The boundary of $1$-cube $[a, b]$ is defined to be the $0$-chain $(+1)[b] + (-1)[a]$ (the square brackets signifying a formal linear combination, or elements of a free Abelian group if you prefer), so the "integral" of $f$ over this boundary is, by fiat, $f(b) - f(a)$. – Andrew D. Hwang Jul 2 '14 at 20:33

Depends on definitions, as always. If one develops Riemann integration exclusively for $\int_a^b f(x)\,dx$, then yes. On the other hand, it takes one line to say that if a set $E$ is the union of finitely many disjoint closed intervals $[a_i,b_i]$, then we define $$\int_E f(x)\,dx = \sum_i \int_{a_i}^{b_i} f(x)\,dx \tag1$$ Voilà, we have an integral over some disconnected sets.
Yes. The expression $F(b)-F(a)$ does not fit the framework of Riemann integral, but it can be a legitimate Lebesgue integral with respect to signed measure $\delta_b-\delta_a$. In the interest of consistency with higher-dimensional Stokes formula, it is better to frame it as integral of differential form over a chain, as user86418 did (the language of forms takes a while to get used to, so don't worry if it looks weird now).
Integration of a $0$-form (i.e., a smooth function) over a $0$-chain (i.e., a finite integer linear combination of points) is customarily defined by evaluation. The boundary of $1$-cube $[a, b]$ is defined to be the $0$-chain $(+1)[b] + (-1)[a]$ (the square brackets signifying a formal linear combination, or elements of a free Abelian group if you prefer), so the "integral" of $f$ over this boundary is, by fiat, $f(b) - f(a)$.