Skin Flashcards

  1. Name the four organs of the INTEGUMENT SYSTEM
/ Organs
  1. Skin
  2. Hair
  3. Nails
  4. Glands

  1. What is the largest organ of THE INTEGUMENT SYSTEM?
/ SKIN is the largest organ of the integument system. Also the largest organ in the body!
  1. What are the five Functions of the Integument System?
/ Functions
  1. Protection
  2. Abrasion
  3. Infections
  4. UV light
  5. Dehydration
  6. Thermal regulation (maintaining proper body temp)
  7. Insulation = adipose layer
  8. Cooling = sweat glands
  9. Sensory reception (touch, temp, pain, etc)
  10. Vitamin D production (discussed in physiology)
  11. Communication (Smile, frown, etc are forms of communication)

  1. What are the 3 layers of the skin?
/
  1. EPIDERMIS
  2. DERMIS
  3. HYPODERMIS

  1. What layer of the skin provides strength to the skin?
/ Epidermis
  1. What layer of the skin provides protection to the skin?
/ Epidermis
  1. Which layer of the skin has no vascularization?
/ Epidermis
  1. How does the epidermis get its nutrients?
/ It absorbs nutrients from the tissues deep to it
  1. What layer of the skin are nails made in?
/ epidermis
  1. How many layers does the epidermis have and what are they?
  1. What is the deepest layer?
  2. What is the most superficial layer?
  3. What layer is only present in thick skin?
/ All epidermis has four layers (thick skin has a fifth layer):
  • Stratum basale (deepest layer of epidermis)
  • Stratum spinosum
  • Stratum granulosum
  • Stratum lucidum (only in thick skin)
  • Stratum corneum (most superficial layer of epidermis)

  1. What are the four cell types found in the STRATUM BASALE?
  1. What protein provides waterproofing and strength to the skin?
  1. What pigment is produced in this layer?
/
  1. Main cell type is KERATINOCYTES
Keratin is a protein, provides waterproofing and strength to skin However, keratinocytes do not start producing keratin until they get closer to the surface.
  1. MELANOCYTES produce MELANIN (dark brown pigment)
  2. MACROPHAGES (ingest and destroy cells)
  3. MERKEL CELLS are nerve fibers (sensory receptors) for light touch

  1. What layer has cells attached to each other by desmosomes?
/ Stratum spinosum
  1. In what layer of the epidermis do cells stop dividing?
/ Stratum spinosum
  1. What layer of epidermis provides strength to the epidermis?
/ Stratum spinosum
  1. What are Langerhans’ cells and where are they?
/ White blood cells (immune function) in the stratum spinosum of the epidermis
  1. Where do Langerhans cells arise from?
/ Red bone marrow, along with other white blood cells
  1. In what layer of the epidermis do cells start to die?
/ Startum granulosum
  1. Why do most cells in the epidermis die?
/ Lack of nutrients because they are now too far from nutrient source in connective tissue
  1. The main difference between thick skin and thin skin relates to the thickness of this layer.
/ Stratum corneum
  1. How long does it take for a cell to migrate from the stratum basale to the stratum cornuem?
/ About 15-30 days
  1. How long do the dead cells remain in the stratum corneum layer before they are shed?
/ About 2 weeks
  1. This layer of the epidermis is only on the palms and soles and it is directly under the stratum corneum
/ Stratum Lucidum
  1. Which layer has cells that provideprotection from uv radiation?
/ Stratum Lucidum
  1. What two areas separate from each other in a blister?
/ The stratum basale tears away from the basement membrane
  1. What is a vesicle?
/ Blister smaller than 5 mm
  1. What is a bulla?
/ Blister larger than 5 mm
  1. Why is the skin capable of repair, even after serious damage?
/ Stem cells persist in both the epidermis and dermis
  1. What are the 3 major types of Skin Cancer?
  2. Which is most common, least common?
  3. Which is the most deadly, least deadly?
/ BASAL CELL CARCINOMA (most common, least deadly; symptoms are easily seen shiny nodules on the nose)
2) SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
3) MELANOMA (least common, most deadly)
  1. What is the major risk factor for skin cancer?
/ Major risk factor is UV light
  1. Which type of cancer is most easily cured and almost never metastasizes?
  2. Which skin cancer is the most likely to metastasize?
/ BASAL CELL CARCINOMA usually doesn’t metastasize
MELANOMA usually metastasizes
  1. What is the medical term for a mole?
/ Nevus (plural = nevi)
  1. What is the medical term for a freckle or any other pigmented area that is flat and does not stick upwards from the skin?
/ Macula
  1. What is the medical term for scratch marks?
/ Excoriations
  1. What is the medical term for dry skin?
/ Xerosis
  1. What is the medical term for inflamed skin?
/ Dermatitis
  1. What is Eczema?
  2. What causes it?
  3. What is the most frequently occurring form of eczema?
/ •Itchy red skin that comes and goes.
•Caused by an autoimmune reaction.
•The most frequently occurring form of eczema is atopic dermatitis.
  1. Name three things that might trigger Atopic dermatitis?
/ •Triggered by allergens like soaps, cosmetics, clothing, detergents, jewelry, or sweat.
•Can be triggered by changes in weather or stress.
  1. Touching poison ivy causes what type of skin condition?
/ Contact dermatitis
  1. What is the name for severe dandruff?
  2. What causes it?
/ •Seborrheic dermatitis
•Caused by an allergy to the fungus that we all have around our hair roots.
  1. What is Psoriasis caused by?
/ An autoimmune disease of the skin
  1. What are the symptoms of psoriasis?
/ silvery flakes on the elbows, knees, and scalp which are NOT itchy
  1. What skeletal condition is psoriasis associated with?
/ Arthritis and a pencil-in-cup appearance on x-ray
  1. What are the two layers of the dermis?
/
  1. PAPILLARY LAYER (Papillary = “Pimple” Has bumps). This is the more superficial layer.
  2. RETICULAR LAYER is the deeper layer

  1. What specific layer is responsible for fingerprints, and what layer of the skin is it in?
/ The PAPILLARY LAYER is in the DERMIS and is the actual layer responsible for the fingerprints.
  1. What is the strongest layer of the epidermis?
/ Stratum spinosum
  1. What is the strongest layer of the dermis?
/ Reticular layer
  1. What is the strongest layer of the skin?
/ Epidermis
  1. What layer of the SKIN is responsible for stretch marks?
/ Dermis
  1. Where are all the glands of the body located?
/ The DERMIS
  1. What layer of the skin is the area that a transdermal patch must reach?
/ The DERMIS
  1. What layer of the skin generates the pink color seem in Caucasian people?
/ The DERMIS
  1. Doctors make incisions on the body based on the lines of cleavage of the skin. This is based on the structure of which layer of the skin?
/ The DERMIS
  1. What are Pacinian corpuscles?
/ nerve fibers in the reticular layer of the dermis for vibration and pressure
  1. What are Meissner's Corpuscles?
/ nerve fibers in the papillary layer of the dermis for light touch
  1. What are stretch marks and what causes them?
/
  • Caused by Sudden weight gain (often seen in pregnancy)
  • During expansion of skin, collagen fibers in the DERMIS separate = stretch marks.

  1. What is the hypodermis?
/ Layer in the skin that consists of fibrous tissue, blood vessels and nerves; sits on top of the muscles
  1. What are functions of the HYPODERMIS?
/ 1) Stores fat
2) Cushions
3) Insulation of heat from blood vessels in this layer.
4) Stabilizes the position of the skin in relation to underlying tissues
  1. What cosmetic surgical procedure is performed in the hypodermis?
/ Liposuction is performed in the hypodermis.
  1. What type of tissue is cellulite?
/ There is no such thing as cellulite. Therefore, it is not a type of adipose or connective tissue, and it does not exist as a particular region of the skin.
  1. What are the three types of burns?
  2. Which is the most serious?
  3. Which is a sunburn?
  4. Which is a blister?
  5. Which needs a skin graft?
/ Three types:
  • FIRST DEGREE: Minor burn to the epidermis; sunburn
  • SECOND DEGREE: Dermis separates from epidermis; blister
  • THIRD DEGREE: Hypodermis is burned. (most severe type of burn; needs a skin graft)

  1. What are 2 reasons why deep burns are so dangerous?
/ 1)Infection
2) Dehydration: nothing to keep fluid in body.
  1. What are DECUBITUS ULCERS
/ DECUBITUS ULCERS
Epidermis is destroyed, underlying tissue is exposed.
  1. What pigment produces brown coloration to the skin?
/ MELANIN: (dark brown pigment). More melanin, darker the skin.
  1. What pigment accumulates more in Asian skin types?
/ CAROTENE: (a yellowish/orange pigment). Accumulates more in Asian skin types.
  1. Why do black-skinned people have lighter palms and soles?
/ In black-skinned people, the thick stratum lucidum layer of the palms and soles blocks the appearance of the melanin pigment in the deeper layers
  1. What causes the pink color of skin in Caucasians?
/ HEMOGLOBIN in red blood cells is a red pigment. Since the DERMIS is the skin layer that contains the blood vessels, that is the layer that causes the pink skin color of Caucasians.
  1. What things determine skin color?
/ Melanin, carotene, skin thickness, and hemoglobin.
  1. What is the medical term for a bruise?
/ CONTUSION: “Bruise”
  1. What is Cyanosis?
/ CYANOSIS: Bluish color to skin.
Caused by superficial blood vessel constriction in the dermis or lack of blood flow to skin
  1. What 4 things cause cyanosis?
/ Occurs for several reasons, including:
1) Cold
2) Not enough oxygen in body to go around. The oxygen is conserved for the vital organs, so oxygen to skin and nails is shut down.
3) Certain medicines
4) Certain chemicals may cause cyanosis.
  1. How do wrinkles form?
/ Over time, collagen fibers align themselves more and more as they are always being pulled in the same direction: smile, frown.
Skin begins to sag because body makes less elastin.
  1. What is BOTOX?
  2. Why do people use it?
  3. Why do people need repeat injections?
/ This is a deadly poison (botulism) which paralyses the muscles, making them sag.
Without muscle tension, wrinkles relax.
In 3 months, new muscle cells are made, so wrinkles come back, and need new injection.
  1. What is one example of how a COLLAGEN INJECTION is used for cosmetic reasons?
/ Collagen is injected into wrinkles to make them flatten out. The effect can last a couple of years.Collagen can also be injected into the lips to make them appear fuller, but in this area, it degrades faster, so new injections are needed more often.
  1. Into what layer of the skin is ink injected for TATTOOS?
/ Pigment is injected into the dermis.
  1. What vitamin is produced by the skin?
/ Vitamin D is produced by the skin (dermis)
  1. What is the function of Arrector Pilli?
/ They are tiny muscles that make the hair stick up when you are cold, as in “goosebumps”.
  1. What are destroyed by electrolysis?
  2. What is hair made of?
/ The dermal papillae are what are destroyed by electrolysis, so hair won’t grow back.
  • Hair is just dead skin cells.

  1. What part of the hair follicle is the site of hair growth and the location of the melanocytes that determine hair color?
/ the hair matrix
  1. What causes differences in uncut hair length?
/ variations in hair growth rate and duration of the hair growth cycle
  1. What glands that are found all over the body?
/ SEBACEOUS (oil) and ECCRINE (sweat) GLANDS
  1. What do sebaceous glands secrete?
/ Produce sebum (oil that coats the hair and epidermis)
  1. What glands secrete sweat?
/ Eccrine and apocrine glands
  1. Which of the above glands secretes most of the sweat, and is found all over the body?
/ Eccrine
  1. Which of the above glands only secretes sweat in the public and axillary regions?
/ Apocrine
  1. How do pimples begin?
/ Pimples begin when oil gland ducts (sebaceous glands) become blocked by viscous (thick) sebum.
  1. What is the black part of a blackhead caused by?
/ The black part of a blackhead is oxidized sebum
  1. What causes boils?
/ Boils are caused by bacteria that enter a gland and invade into the hypodermis.
  1. How do boils differ from pimples?
/ Boils involve the hypodermis and are larger than pimples
  1. What layer of skin gives rise to the NAILS?
/ The EPIDERMIS gives rise to the nails.
  1. What are nails made of?
/ Nails are made of keratin (not calcium or collagen)
  1. What is the proximal nail fold called?
/ Eponychium
  1. What is the white half-moon visible under the proximal part of a fingernail?
/ lunula
  1. What 4 classifications of SKIN GLANDS are there? Which ones produce sweat?
/
  • SEBACEOUS (oil)
  • ECCRINE (MEROCRINE) GLANDS (sweat)
  • APOCRINE GLANDS (sweat land that produces a secretion to coat pubic and axillary hairs, and also produce pheromones)
  • MAMMARY GLANDS (special type of apocrine gland, but produces milk)
  • CERUMINUS GLANDS (wax)

  1. Where are Apocrine Glands found?
  2. What special protein do they secrete?
/ APOCRINE GLANDS are only in the axilla and pubic region, where they produce a secretion to coat the hairs. The hairs function as a wick to draw the secretions to the surface.
  • These glands also produce a type of protein called a hormone known as PHEROMONES.
  • Modified apocrine glands are also found in breast milk ducts.

  1. What are Mammary Glands?
  2. What do they secrete?
/ Modified apocrine glands.
They secrete milk.
  1. What do Ceruminus Glands secrete, and where are they found?
/ Only found in the ear, and they produce wax.
  1. What are Exocrine Glands?
/ Exocrine glands secrete substances into the cell itself, or onto the epidermis by way of a DUCT.
  1. What are Endocrine Glands?
/ Endocrine glands do not have ducts. They secrete hormones directly into the blood.
  1. What do Plasma Cells secrete?
/ A type of blood cell that secretes antibodies.
  1. What do Goblet Cells secrete?
  2. Are they unicellular or multicellular?
/
  • Goblet cells secrete mucus.
  • They are unicellular

  1. What is Leukemia?
/ A cancer in blood-forming cells.
  1. What is Lymphoma?
/ A tumor developing in lymphatic tissues.
  1. What is Carcinoma?
/ A tumor developing in any part of the epithelium.
  1. What is Melanoma?
/ A tumor developing in the pigment-forming cells (melanocytes) of the skin.
  1. What is Sarcoma?
/ A tumor developing in muscles and connective tissues.
  1. What are 3 CHARACTERISTICS OF CANCER CELLS?
/ 1. LACK DIFFERENTIATION-Normal cells have specialized functions, but cancer cells do not differentiate and do not contribute to the function of the body.
2. ABNORMAL NUCLEI-They have large or multiple nuclei with mutated chromosomes.
  • 3. FORM MALIGNANT TUMORS-Cancer cells grow and divide rapidly until they accumulate and form a lump of cancer cells called a tumor. A BENIGN tumor is an accumulation of non-cancerous cells because they stay in their own capsule (encapsulated) and do not invade. If a tumor is benign, it is not cancer.

  1. What are MALIGNANT tumors?
  2. What does METASTASIZE means?
/ MALIGNANT tumors are cancerous cells that metastasize
Metastasize means to spread and invade
  1. What is a carcinogen? What are some examples?
  2. What is a mutagen?
/
  • CARCINOGEN is an environmental agent that contributes to cancer. Not everyone exposed to it for a long time will get cancer. Examples of a carcinogen: sun radiation, tobacco, toxic chemicals, and viruses.
  • MUTAGEN - an agent that always increases chances of DNA change or mutation if you are exposed to too long. Examples are x-rays and nuclear radiation.

  1. What Diagnostic Procedure test for cervical cancer?
  2. Which one tests for breast cancer?
  3. Which one tests for colon cancer?
/
  • PAP SMEARS detect cervical cancers. MAMMOGRAMS are diagnostic procedures to detect breast cancer.
  • COLONOSCOPY is a diagnostic procedure to detect colon cancer. A scope is inserted into the rectum so the doctor can look for polyps.

  1. What is the epidermis primarily composed of?
/ Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
  1. What is the process where cells in the stratum corneum lose their nucleus and fuse to squamous sheets, which eventually shed from the surface?
/ Desquamation
  1. What happens when skin is rubbed and cell division is stimulated?
/ You get calluses.
  1. What are the ABCD’s of determining if a mole might be cancerous?
/ A is for Asymmetry, where one side of the mole looks different than the other side.
B is for Border, where the border is jagged or irregular instead of smooth and regular.
C is for Color, where the mole contains more than one color.
D is for Diameter. A mole that's smaller than the eraser on the end of a pencil (6mm) generally is not a cause for concern. However, a larger mole is not necessarily a dangerous one- no rmal moles often grow to be larger than 6mm.
  1. How can atopic dermatitis be treated?
/ With lubricant creams daily and steroid creams during outbreaks
  1. In children, Seborrheic dermatitis is also known as?
/ Cradle Cap
  1. What disorder causes flaking of skin, especially knees, elbows, and scalp. There are treatments such as shampoo with coal tar or steroids, but no cure.
/ Psoriasis.
  1. What disorder destroys melanocytes, especially in areas of friction?Also causes depigmentation.
/ Vitiligo.
  1. Surgeons make incisions on the body based on the lines of cleavage of the skin formed by what layer of skin?
/ the dermis
  1. Leather is made of this layer of skin
/ Dermis
  1. What happens when you get cut?
/ - macrophages eat foreign bodes and dead cells
- bleed, then clot
- fibroblasts lay down collagen
  1. Thick, red, sometimes painful scars. More often in African American, NativeAmerican, and Asian races. Treated with cortisone shots.
/ Keloid Scars
  1. This is scar tissue in the deeper layers of the body, such as right outside of the intestines, outside of the ovaries, etc. Some people form adhesions spontaneously from the organs rubbing against each other. If the adhesions cause symptoms, they might need a surgery to clean them away.
/ Adhesion tissue