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Y2 Dermatology > Structure and Function of the Skin > Flashcards

Structure and Function of the Skin Flashcards

(108 cards)

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1
Q

what is the most common cell type in the epidermis?

A

keratinocytes

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2
Q

name three cells, that aren’t keratinocytes, that are found in the epidermis?

A

melanocytes
langerhans cells
merkel cells

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3
Q

how do melanocytes reach the epidermis?

A

they migrate from the neural crest in the first 3 months of foetal development

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4
Q

where are melanocytes found?

A

in and above the basal layer

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5
Q

what are melanocytes?

A

pigment producing dendritic cells

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6
Q

what are the organelles found in melanocytes called?

A

melanosomes

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7
Q

how do melanocytes produce melanin?

A

they convert tyrosine to melanin pigment

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8
Q

what are the two types of melanin?

A

eumelanin

pheomelanin

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9
Q

what colour is eumelanin?

A

brown or black

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10
Q

what colour is phaeomelanin?

A

red or yellow

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11
Q

what does melanin absorb?

A

light

it acts as a neutral density filter

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12
Q

where and how are full melanosomes transferred?

A

to adjacent keratinocytes

via dendrites

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13
Q

what do melanosomes form?

A

a protective cap over the cell nucleus, to protect the DNA in basal cells

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14
Q

what is vitiligo?

A

an autoimmune disease where melanocytes are lost

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15
Q

what is involved in albinism?

A

a genetic partial loss of pigment production

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16
Q

what occurs in nelson’s syndrome?

A

melanin stimulating hormone is produced in excess by the pituitary

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17
Q

what is a malignant melanoma?

A

a tumour of melanocytes

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18
Q

where do langerhans cells originate?

A

bone marrow (mesenchymal)

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19
Q

where are langerhans cells found?

A

the prickle cell layer of the epidermis

the dermis

lymph nodes

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20
Q

what type of cells are langerhans cells?

A

antigen presenting cells

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21
Q

where are merkel cells located?

A

basal layer

between keratinocytes and nerve fibres

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22
Q

what type of cells are merkel cells?

A

mechanoreceptors

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23
Q

what causes merkel cell cancer?

A

a viral infection

this is very rare and has a high mortality rate

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24
Q

what causes hair pigmentation?

A

melanocytes above the dermal papilla

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25
what forms a pilosebaceous unit?
epidermal component dermal papilla specialised keratins adjacent sebaceous gland
26
what does a sebaceous gland produce?
sebum
27
what is sebum?
a greasy wax that acts as a natural emollient
28
where is hair always found?
with a sebaceous gland
29
what are the three phases of hair growth?
anagen catagen telogen
30
which phase of hair growth is the growing phase?
anagen
31
which phase of hair growth is the resting phase?
telogen
32
which phase of hair growth is the involuting phase?
catagen
33
name two hormonal influences on hair growth?
thyroxine | androgens
34
name three types of hair
lanugo vellus terminal
35
where is lanugo hair found?
in utero
36
which phase of hair growth is asynchronous in humans?
telogen
37
what is alopecia areata?
autoimmune hair loss
38
what are nails made from?
specialised keratins
39
what is the growth rate for nails?
0.1mm per day occurs more on the fingers and in summer
40
what is the largest vital organ in the body?
the skin
41
what can skin disease indicate?
underlying disease
42
what are the two layers of the skin?
epidermis | dermis
43
what is the outer layer of the skin?
epidermis
44
what is the epidermis?
a very thin layer of stratified squamous epithelium
45
what is the epidermis made of?
connective tissue
46
what is the role of the dermis?
provides mechanical strength
47
how does the epidermis develop in an embryo?
ectoderm cells form a single layer periderm, which builds up and is eventually cast off, forming the epidermis
48
what forms the dermis in an embryo?
cells from the mesoderm
49
what are melanocytes?
pigment producing dendritic cells
50
where do melanocytes originate in development?
the neural crest
51
what are the development growth lines of skin called?
blaschko's lines
52
what is the sub-cutis predominantly made from?
fat
53
what is another name for the sub-cutis?
subcutaneous tissue
54
what is the main cell type in the epidermis, and what do these cells contain?
keratinocytes contain structural jeratins
55
how does skin grow?
from the basement layer to the top
56
what are the four defined layers of the epidermis from bottom to top?
basal layer prickle cell layer granular layer keratin layer
57
name four cell types found in the epidermis?
keratinocytes melanocytes langerhans cells merkel cells
58
what type of cells are found in the basal layer?
stem cells
59
what layer of the epidermis is very thick on the palms and the soles?
the keratin layer
60
how thick is the granular layer of the skin of the hands and feet normally?
around one cell thick
61
what three things control epidermal turnover?
growth factors cell death hormones
62
name two conditions that can be caused by loss of regulation of epidermal turnover
skin cancer | psoriasis
63
what is the majority of the dermis made from?
collagen fibres
64
what cell type produces collagen fibres?
fibroblasts
65
how long does it take the skin to regenerate from bottom to top?
28 days
66
how thick is the basal layer normally?
one cell thick
67
what are the cells of the basal layer like?
small and cuboidal
68
what is there lots of in the basal layer?
intermediate filaments such as keratin
69
which layer of the epidermis is very metabolically active?
the basal layer
70
describe the cells of the prickle cell layer
large | polyhedral
71
what cell feature is found in the prickle cell layer?
lots of desmosomes with intermediate filaments attached
72
describe a normal granular layer
two to three layers of flat cells
73
name two things found in the granular layer
keratohyalin granules | odland bodies
74
what do keratohyalin granules contain?
structural proteins i.e. filaggrin and involucrin
75
describe the masticatory oral mucosa
keratinised this is to deal with friction
76
describe the lining mucosa of the oral cavity
non keratinised
77
what does the mucosa of the tongue contain?
papillae
78
what does the ocular mucosa contain?
lacrimal glands eyelashes sebaceous glands
79
what is the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ)?
the interface between the epidermis and the dermis
80
how does the epidermis receive nutrients?
no blood supply all nutrients diffuse up from the dermis
81
where are sweat glands and hair follicles located?
the dermis
82
what is another name for the upper dermis?
the papillary dermis
83
what is another name for the DEJ?
the basement membrane
84
what are the three layers of the DEJ?
lamina lucida lamina densa sub lamina densa
85
name two diseases caused by problems with the DEJ
bullous pemphigoid | EB
86
what is the dermis made of?
ground substance cells fibres
87
what is ground substance?
a supportive water based substance
88
what cells are found in the dermis?
``` fibroblasts macrophages mast cells langerhans cells lymphocytes ```
89
what two fibres are found in the dermis?
collagen | elastin
90
what causes photoaging?
UV exposure
91
what is the pathological process behind photoaging?
loss of collagen makes skin collapse loss of elastin means the skin cant bounce back
92
what supports the vessel walls in the skin?
collagen | muscle fibres
93
what three things make up the somatic sensory supply of the skin?
free nerve endings pacinian corpuscles meissner's corpuscles
94
what do pacinian corpuscles sense?
pressure
95
what do meissner's corpuscles sense?
vibration
96
what creates the pigment of hair?
melanocytes
97
what is acne a disease of?
the pilosebaceous unit
98
what are the three stages of hair growth?
anagen catagen telogen
99
what are the three skin glands?
sebaceous appocrine eccrine
100
when do sebaceous glands become active?
puberty
101
what do sebaceous glands secrete?
sebum
102
where are apocrine sweat glands found?
axillae | perineum
103
what are the main sweat glands?
eccrine
104
what is the two way barrier of the skin?
epidermis
105
what is steroid sulphatase deficiency?
an inherited disorder of steroid sulphates lipids in the keratin layer are not formed
106
what two substances are metabolised by the skin?
vitamin D | thyroid hormone
107
what is the reaction of vitamin D metabolism in the skin?
UVB reactions convert 7-dehydrocholesterol to vitamin D
108
what is the reaction of thyroid hormone metabolism in the skin?
thyroxine is converted to triiodothyronine

Y2 Dermatology (17 decks)

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