Dermatology

Question 1

What is a confluent configuration in a rash?

Answer 1

Joined together

Question 2

Name 3 viruses that commonly cause rash

Answer 2

Rubella
Measles
Hand Foot and Mouth

Question 3

The skin is divided into 2 layers. The epidermis contains 5 layers which house…?

Answer 3

Basal Cells
Keratinocytes
Melanocytes
Merkel Cells
Langerhans Cells

Question 4

What are 3 functions of the skin?

Answer 4

Regulated temperature control
Prevent fluid loss
Vitamin D production

Question 5

Merkel cells are of neuroectodermal origin. What sense do they help with?

Answer 5

Touch

Question 6

Name 3 diseases of the squamous cell layer

Answer 6

Eczema
Psoriasis
MRSA

Question 7

What does ABCDE stand for when assessing suspicious moles?

Answer 7

Assymetry
Border
Colour
Diameter
Evolving

Question 8

Name 3 red flag dermatology presentations

Answer 8

Non-blanching rash
Erythroderma
Suspected Malignancy

Question 9

What is a flexural rash?

Answer 9

A skin rash that develops in flexural areas of the body: folds and creases of joints and groin

Question 10

What is the largest organ of the body?

Answer 10

The skin: 16% of total body weight

Question 11

What are the functions of the skin? (7)

Answer 11

Barrier to external factors
Prevent loss of body fluids
Regulates body temp
Allows free movement
Acts as sensory organ
Vitamin d production
Social interaction

Question 12

What are the 2 layers of the skin? And what is the layer underneath them?

Answer 12

Epidermis (protection)
Dermis (collagen/elasticity)
Subcutis (fat layer)

Question 13

What are the 5 layers of the epidermis?

Answer 13

Stratum corneum
Stratum lucidum
Stratum granulosum
Stratum spinosum
Stratum basal

Question 14

What 3 cells are found in the basal layer of the skin?

Answer 14

Basal cells
Melanocytes
Merkel cells

Question 15

What do basal cells do?

Answer 15

Continuously divide, pushing older cells up to the surface of the skin where they eventually shed

Question 16

What do melanocytes do?

Answer 16

Produce melanin

Question 17

What is the function of melanin

Answer 17

Produces tan/brown colour: protects deeper layers from harmful effects of sun

Question 18

What can melanin cause?

Answer 18

Freckles
Age spots
Birth marks
Melanoma

Question 19

What is malignant melanoma

Answer 19

When melanocytes undergo malignant transformation and replicate uncontrollably

Question 20

What is basal cell carcinoma

Answer 20

When basal cells don’t push up through the skin and keep growing on the basal layer

Question 21

What do Merkel cells do?

Answer 21

Sense touch. They can rarely cause Merkel carcinoma

Question 22

What is the stratum spinosum otherwise known as

Answer 22

Squamous cell layer

Question 23

What are 95% cells in the skin

Answer 23

Keratinocytes

Question 24

What is the thickest layer of the epidermis

Answer 24

The squamous cell layer/stratum spinosum

Question 25

What are the maturing basal cells called in the stratum spinosum?

Answer 25

Keratinocytes

Question 26

What is the function of keratinocytes

Answer 26

Produce keratin: Tough protective protein that makes up skin, hair and nails

Question 27

What cells does keratin contain

Answer 27

Langerhans cells

Question 28

What is the function of Langerhans cells

Answer 28

They attach to antigens that invade damaged skin and alert the immune system to their presence

Question 29

What type of cells become overactive in eczema and psoriasis

Answer 29

Langerhans cells in the keratin

Question 30

What happens in the stratum granulosum/lucidum/corneum

Answer 30

Keratinocytes are pushed through to the top. In the corneum they get big and flat, adhere together dehydrate and die

Question 31

What is the outermost layer of the epidermis

Answer 31

Stratum corneum

Question 32

What happens in the stratum corneum

Answer 32

Made up of dead keratinocytes and constantly shedding , from 3-5 days in babies to 45-50 days in elderly

Question 33

Where is the dermis located

Answer 33

Below the epidermis

Question 34

What fibres is the dermis made up of

Answer 34

70% collagen fibres which provide strength and also elastin fibres which provide elasticity

Question 35

Aside from collagen and elastin, what 3 things are located in the dermis

Answer 35

Follicles Sebaceous glands Sweat glands

Question 36

What do follicles do

Answer 36

Open up the the skin surface and produce hair, they are present on most of the body

Question 37

What do sebaceous glands do

Answer 37

Attach to hair follicles Secrete lipid rich sebum which waterproofs and lubricates skin/hair

Question 38

What is a primary skin lesion

Answer 38

A lesion that arises directly from a disease process or cause

Question 39

What is a secondary skin lesion

Answer 39

One that progresses from a primary lesion or transforms from an interaction with the environment or patient actions (heat/chemicals/scratching)

Question 40

What is a macule

Answer 40

Localised change in skin colour that is less than 1cm in diameter EG a freckle

Question 41

What is a papule

Answer 41

A solid elevated lesion less than 1cm in diameter EG elevated nevi, seborrheic keratosis