Anatomy of the Skin Flashcards

1
Q

What are the four accessory structures of the skin?

A

Hair
Sweat Glands
Receptors
Nails

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2
Q

Where is the hair found and what is it made of?

A

All over the body except palms, soles and lips
Made of dead, keratinised cells produced inside a hair follicle
Hair shaft (dead part) is projected out from the follicle (below visible surface)

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3
Q

What is the arrector pilli muscle?

A

A muscle found in the hair that contracts to produce goose bumps, it pulls on hair follicle making hair shaft stand upright and trapping tiny packets of air, increasing insulation

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4
Q

What is the root hair plexus?

A

A collections of sensory nerves found at the base of each hair follicle which heighten sensation. Nerve endings command follicle to contract or release

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5
Q

What are sebaceous glands?

A

Glands that produce oily secretion called sebum. Made of epithelial cells

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6
Q

What is sebum?

A

Sebum nourishes hair shafts and naturally moisturises skin. It is also a water repellent due to it being an oily secretion

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7
Q

How does acne occur?

A

Blocked hair follicles + infection due to increased sebum production leads to acne

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8
Q

What is lanolin?

A

Sheep sebum which can be purified and used commercially in skin care products

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9
Q

What are the two types of sweat glands?

A

Eccrine and Apocrine

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10
Q

What is an eccrine sweat gland?

A

Found in most areas of skin, pours water directly onto the skin surface, important in thermo regulation and excretion, has some antibacterial action

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11
Q

What is an apocrine sweat gland?

A

Found in specific areas e.g. armpit, groin and around nipples
Secretes sticky/oily and sometimes odorous secretions into base of hair follicle (not directly on skin surface)
Influenced by hormones e.g. lactation

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12
Q

What are the three times of receptors?

A

Tactile
Lamellar
Bulbous
Receptors allow us to pick up an array of sensations

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13
Q

Why are nails important in regards to skin?

A

Protect fingertips/toes
Enhance sensation
Sensory receptors require deformation and nails allow this in the form of temporary deformation rather than permanent

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14
Q

How does skin anatomy relate to its function?

A

Aging
Pigmentation (protection from UV radiation, vit D production)
Skin cancer/Vit D insufficiency
Tattoo (artificial pigmentation)

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15
Q

What are the six components of skin aging?

A

Thin epidermis
Thin dermis
Slower skin repair
Drier epidermis
Impaired cooling
Less pigmentation

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16
Q

How does a thin epidermis occur with aging?

A

Cells divide much slower and less frequently resulting in thinner layers of epidermis

17
Q

How does a thin dermis occur with aging?

A

Reticular layer in dermis contains collagen and elastin. Replenished more slowly hence less collagen and elastin resulting in sagging/wrinkling

18
Q

How does slow skin repair occur with aging?

A

Less blood flow and less nutrients results in longer repair time

19
Q

How does a drier epidermis occur with aging?

A

Less sebum is produced due to less blood flow resulting in dry skin

20
Q

How does impaired cooling occur with aging?

A

Sweat glands cannot produce as much sweat hence body cannot thermoregulate as quickly

21
Q

How does less pigmentation occur with aging?

A

Melanin cells produce melanin slower due to less blood flow resulting in pale skin and grey hair

22
Q

How does tobacco cause premature skin aging?

A

Contains agents that accelerate aging, damages collagen and elastin, linked with poor wound healing, acne, skin and oral cancer

23
Q

How does vaping cause premature skin aging?

A

Contains nicotine which reduces blood circulation in the dermis, contact dermatitis (skin inflammation) due to metal coating on e-cigarettes

24
Q

How do melanocytes and melanosomes relate to melanin?

A

Melanin is produced in melanocytes which are transferred around skin in vacuoles by melanosomes
Melanin pigment absorbs UV light protecting cells from UV damage

25
Q

What are melanocytes in epidermal pigmentation?

A

Cells found in the stratum basale hence are not shed
Density varies throughout body and through time

26
Q

What are melanosomes in epidermal pigmentation?

A

Cells found throughout the epidermis
Shed with keratinocytes

27
Q

How is a mole formed?

A

A mole is a cluster of melanocytes, over-proliferation can be caused by sun exposure

28
Q

How is a freckle formed?

A

Melanocytes overproducing melanosomes which is triggered by sun exposure
Disappear with aging or from reduced sun exposure

29
Q

How is skin pigmentation related to UV exposure?

A

The more UV exposure, the more skin pigmentation (more UV more melanosomes produced)

30
Q

What is vitamin D?

A

Vitamin D is essential for normal calcium metabolism and strong bones, deficiency causes rickets (loss of bone strength), affects mood

31
Q

How is vitamin D related to UV exposure?

A

UV exposure in skin is required for vitamin D synthesis
Greater incidence of lightly pigmented skin at higher latitudes e.g. Russia
Highly pigmented people are more susceptible to Vit D deficiency, particularly at extreme latitudes as melanin can block UV so more UV required when more melanin present

32
Q

NZ and skin cancer facts

A
  • Large proportion (74%) of NZ’s are Pakeha
  • Intense UV light due to thin Ozone, similar to Australia
  • Highest rates of skin cancer world wide
33
Q

What is a basal cell carcinoma?

A

A type of skin cancer that is common but relatively benign, originates in stratum basale, spread (metastasis) is rare

34
Q

What is a malignant melanoma?

A

A type of skin cancer that is rare but deadly, originates in melanocytes hence highly spread (metastatic), mortality rate dependent on tumour (thicker tumour=higher death rate)

35
Q

How do tattoos relate to skin anatomy?

A

Artificial pigmentation (ink) is deposited deep within the skin in the dermal layer hence it is not shed
Ink captured inside immune cells/scar tissue
Pain during tattoo is due to dermal layer containing pain receptors and free nerve endings