Structure and Function of the skin Flashcards

1
Q

What is the largest organ of the body?

A

The skin (duh)

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2
Q

What are the two layers of the skin?

A

Epidermis

Dermis

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3
Q

What is more superficial, the epidermis or the dermis?

A

The Epidermis

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4
Q

What is the epidermis made of?

A

Stratified squamous epithelium

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5
Q

Embryologically, what kind of cells does the epidermis arise from?

A

Ectoderm cells

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6
Q

How thick is the epidermis?

A

1.5mm

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7
Q

True or False, 95% of the cells in the epidermis are melanocytes?

A

FALSE

95% are keratinocytes

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8
Q

What are the four layers of the Epidermis?

A

Keratin layer
Granular layer
Prickle cell layer
Basal layer

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9
Q

What other cells are found in the epidermis?

A

Melanocytes
Langerhans cells
Merkel cells

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10
Q

Where is the dermis in relation to the epidermis?

A

Beneath it

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11
Q

What is the dermis made of?

A

Connective tissue

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12
Q

What is the dermis formed from (embryologically)?

A

Mesoderm

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13
Q

How many layers are there to the foetal skin at 4 weeks?

A

3
Periderm
Basal layer
Dermis

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14
Q

Name 2 Skin appendages:

A

Hair follicles

Melanocytes

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15
Q

What is the function of the arrector pili?

A

Controls temperature

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16
Q

What are the lines of skin development known as?

A

Blaschko’s lines

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17
Q

What three factors control the regulation of epidermal turnover?

A

Growth factors
Cell death
Hormones

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18
Q

How long does the regeneration of the epidermis take in healthy skin?

A

28days

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19
Q

How long does the regeneration of the epidermis take in psoriasis patient’s?

A

5days

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20
Q

How thick is the basal layer?

A

One cell thick

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21
Q

Are there intermediate filaments in the basal layer?

A

Yes, lots of keratin

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22
Q

Is the basal layer metabolically active?

A

Yes

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23
Q

Why are there desmosomes in the prickle cell layer?

A

Because the cells are constantly vibrating and moving upwards so do not stay together

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24
Q

What happens to the prickle cell layer in psoriasis?

A

It thickens

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25
Q

How thick is the granular layer?

A

2-3 cells thick

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26
Q

What to the large keratohyalin granules in the granular cell layer contain?

A

Filaggrin and Involucrin

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27
Q

Where is the origin of the cornified envelope?

A

The granular cell layer

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28
Q

What is the keratin layer made up of?

A

Corneocytes

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29
Q

What are the 4 different types of epidermal cells?

A

Keratinocytes
Melanocytes
Langerhan’s cells
Merkel cells

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30
Q

Where do melanocytes come from?

A

Neural crest

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31
Q

Where are melanocytes found?

A

Basal layer and above

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32
Q

What kind of cell are melanocytes?

A

Pigment producting dendritic cells

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33
Q

What organelles do melanocytes contain?

A

Melanosomes

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34
Q

What are melanosomes responsible for?

A

Converting tyrosine to melanin
Eumelanin (brown or black)
Phaeomelanin (red or yellow)

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35
Q

T/F melanin absorbs light?

A

True

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36
Q

What stimulates the production of melanin?

A

UV light

Hormones

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37
Q

Where do langerhan’s cells come from?

A

Mesenchyme (bone marrow)

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38
Q

Where are langerhan’s cells found?

A

Prickle cell layer
Dermis
Lymph noders

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39
Q

What type of cell are Langerhan’s cells?

A

Antigen presenting cells

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40
Q

What type of cells are Merkel cells?

A

Basal cells

Mechanoreceptors

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41
Q

Where are merkel cells found?

A

On the end of nerve fibres

DIrect extension of the brain

42
Q

T/F - Merkel cells can turn cancerous

A

True
Very rare
Caused by a viral infection
High mortality

43
Q

What causes vitiligo?

A

Hypopigmentation of the skin caused by T cells attacking melanocytes

44
Q

What is Nelson’s syndrome and what causes it?

A

Bronzing of the skin due to excess ADH production from the pituitary stimulating melanin excess

45
Q

What is the name for a tumour of the melanocyte cell line?

A

Malignant melanoma

46
Q

What always accompanies a hair follicle?

A

Sebaceous gland

47
Q

What is the name for the unit formed by a hair follicle and a sebaceous gland?

A

Pilosebaceous unit

48
Q

What is contained in the pilosebaceous unit?

A
Epidermal component
Dermal papilla
Specialised kertains
Sebaceous gland
Hair pigmentation via melanocytes
49
Q

What are the three stages of hair growth?

A

Anagen
Catagen
Telogen

50
Q

What is the anagen pahse?

A

The growing phase

51
Q

What is the catagen phase?

A

The involuting phase

52
Q

What is the telogen phase?

A

The resting phase

53
Q

What can induce the telogen phase?

A

Chemotherapy

Hair loss

54
Q

What do nails contain?

A

Specialised keratin

55
Q

Where do nails orignate from?

A

Nail matrix

56
Q

How fast do nails grow?

A

0.1mm a day

57
Q

Which nails grow faster (toenails or fingernails)?

A

Fingernails

58
Q

Where is the dermal-epidermal junction?

A

Interface between the epidermis and the dermis

59
Q

What interactions does the DE junction play a key role in?

A

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions

60
Q

How is the DE junction involved in Basal cells?

A

Involved in support, anchorage, adhesion growth and differentiation

61
Q

Is the DE junction permeable?

A

Semi-permeable

62
Q

What are the three layers of the DE junction?

A

Lamina Lucida
Lamina Densa
Sub-lamina densa zone

63
Q

What can occur when the junction is non-functioning?

A

Fragile skin

Fluid filled blisters

64
Q

What is the dermis made up of?

A
Ground substance
Cells
Fibres
Muscles
Blood vessels
Lymphatics
Nerves
65
Q

What does ground substance consist of and what does it do?

A

Glycans, proteins and acids

Gives the dermis structure

66
Q

What cells are found in the dermis?

A
Mainly fibroblasts
Macrophages
Mast cells
Lymphocytes
Langerhan's cells
67
Q

What fibres are found in the dermis?

A

Collagen

Elastin

68
Q

What is the pathway for the flow of blood?

A

Arteriole>Precapillary sphincters>Arterial>Venous capillaries>Post capillary venules> collecting venules

69
Q

What are lymphatics?

A

Sub-epidermal meshed networks
Smaller non-contractile vessels drain to larger contractile lymphatic trunks
Continously drains plasma proteins, dead cells and excess interstitial fluid

70
Q

What is neurofibromatosis?

A

Overgrowth of nerve endings

71
Q

What is angioma?

A

Overgrowth of blood vessels

72
Q

What are the three types of skin glands?

A

Sebaceous
Apocrine
Eccrine

73
Q

What do sebaceous glands secrete?

A
Holocrine into the pilary canal
Sebum
Wax
TG
FFA
74
Q

Where are sebaceous glands found?

A

Widely distributed

Largest glands in the face and chest

75
Q

What do sebaceous glands control?

A

Moisture loss

76
Q

What do sebaceous glands protect from?

A

Fungal infection

77
Q

Where are apocrine glands from?

A

Underarm

Groin

78
Q

What are apocrine glands dependent on?

A

Androgens

79
Q

What do androgens produce?

A

Oily fluid and odour

80
Q

What is the function of apocrine glands?

A

Unknown

81
Q

Which glands are the most active?

A

Eccrine

82
Q

Where are eccrine glands found?

A

Everywhere

Specifically palms, soles and axillae

83
Q

What is the nerve supple to the eccrine glands?

A

Sympathetic cholinergenic

Mental, thermal and gustatory stimulation

84
Q

How much fluid can eccrine glands filter?

A

> 10L a day

85
Q

How many eccrine glands are present in the body?

A

2-4 million glands

86
Q

What is the function of eccrine glands?

A

Moistens palms and soled to aid grip

87
Q

What are the main functions of the skin?

A
Barrier function
Metabolism and detoxification
Thermoregulation
Immune defence
Communication
Sensory function
88
Q

What does the skin act as a barrier from?

A
Friction
Mechanical trauma
UV radiation
Chemicals
Bacterias
Viruses
Fungi
89
Q

What are the consequences of skin barrier failure?

A

Fluid loss > Dehydration
Protein loss > Hypoalbuminaemia
Infection

90
Q

T/F the skin is metabolically active?

A

True

91
Q

How does vitamin D metabolism occur?

A

Cholecalciferol to Vitamin D3 occurs in the dermis

92
Q

Where does thyroid hormone metabolism occur?

A

Tryroxine to Triiodothyrnine in the periopheral tissues and thyroid

93
Q

What is the consequences of metabolism and detoxification?

A

Disordered thyroxine metabolsim

94
Q

What does thermoregulation protect against?

A

Hot and cold

95
Q

What are does thermoregulation control?

A

Sweating, shivering and blood supply

96
Q

What is the consequence of failure of thermoregulation?

A

Heat loss>Hypothermia

97
Q

What is immune defence important in?

A

Protection against infection
Sunlight responses
Allergic reactions to chemicals and drugs

98
Q

What cells act in the immune defence?

A

Langerhans and T cells

99
Q

What is the consequence of failure of immune defence?

A

Spread of infection

100
Q

What is the skin involved in communicating?

A

Visual
Odour
Sociosexual behaviour

101
Q

What does the sensory function of the skin regulate?

A
Touch
Pressure
Vibration
Pain
Itch
Heat and cold