Structure of the Skin

Question 1

How are blisters formed? (2)

Answer 1

1. Burn or friction may cause the epidermis and dermis *2 layers) to separate
2. Interstitial fluid accumulates between the layers → blister

Question 2

What does hypodermis composed of and what purposes does it serve? (4)

Answer 2

1. Adipose tissue (fat)
2. Shock absorber
3. Insulates deeper tissue from extreme temperature changes
4. Responsible for curves of the body (feminine feature)

Question 3

List the 3 substances that determine skin colour. (3)

Answer 3

1. Melanin (amount and kind)
2. Carotene (amount)
3. Oxygen-gen rich hemoglobin (amount in the dermal blood vessels)

Question 4

What substance are most of the cells in the epidermis made out of?

Answer 4

Keratin

Question 5

Define: cyanosis

Answer 5

Appearance when hemoglobin is poorly oxygenated, skin and blood take on a blue tint most notably on lighter-coloured skin

Question 6

Under what condition is cyanosis common?

Answer 6

Heart failure

Question 7

What do emotions influence in relation to the skin?

Answer 7

Skin colour

Question 8

List 5 reasons why skin may redden (erythema). (5)

Answer 8

1. Embarrassment
2. Fever
3. Hypertension
4. Inflammation
5. Allergy

Question 9

What is pallor?

Answer 9

Blanching of the skin

Question 10

What may result in pallor (blanching)? (5)

Answer 10

1. Fear
2. Anger
3. Anemia
4. Low BP
5. Impaired blood flow to the area

Question 11

What does jaundice look like?

Answer 11

Yellow cast

Question 12

What may jaundice signify and why does it turn skin yellow? (2)

Answer 12

1. Signifies liver disorder

2. Bile pigments accumulate in the blood and circulate throughout the body → deposit into body tissues

Question 13

List the 3 parts that act as appendages to the skin. (3)

Answer 13

1. Hair
2. Hair follicles
3. Cutaneous glands

Question 14

What do exocrine glands do?

Answer 14

Release secretions to the skin surface via ducts

Question 15

Differentiate between sebaceous glands and sweat glands. (2)

Answer 15

1. Sebaceous glands secrete OIL

2. Sweat gland secrete SWEAT (and thus, are “sudoriferous”)

Question 16

What is sebum composed of and what does it do? (4)

Answer 16

1. Mixture of oily substance and fragmented cells
2. Acts as a lubricant to keep skin soft and moist
3. Prevents hair from becoming brittle
4. Protects the body with chemicals that kill bacteria

Question 17

What is the common name for seborrhea and what is it essentially? (2)

Answer 17

1. Seborrhea = cradle cap

2. Overactive sebaceous (oil) glands

Question 18

Where are sweat glands?

Answer 18

All over the body

Question 19

Differentiate between the eccrine and apocrine sweat glands. (2)

Answer 19

1. Eccrine is all over the body

2. Apocrine is only in the armpit (axillary) and genital areas

Question 20

State the composition sweat. (5)

Answer 20

1. Water
2. Salts
3. Vitamin C
4. Traces of metabolic wastes
5. Lactic acid

Question 21

What is the pH range of sweat and does this mean it’s acidic or alkaline? (2)

Answer 21

1. pH range = 4-6

2. Acidic

Question 22

Are apocrine glands bigger or smaller than eccrine glands?

Answer 22

Bigger

Question 23

Where the the ducts of apocrine glands empty into?

Answer 23

Hair follicles

Question 24

What does sweat from apocrine glands contain? (3)

Answer 24

1. Everything from eccrine sweat
2. Fatty acids
3. Proteins

Question 25

List 3 things that activate the nerve fibers when apocrine glands secrete sweat. (3)

Answer 25

1. Pain
2. Stress
3. Sexual arousal