13. Skin Flashcards
What are the 3 layers of skin?
Epidermis
Dermis
Hypodermis
What does the thickness of the hypodermis vary upon?
Upon different regions of the body and different people
In men, where is the hypodermis thickest in?
abdomen and shoulders
In women, where is the hypodermis thickest in and why?
hips, thighs, and buttocks- evolutionary advantage to store fat to produce milk
In both men and women where is the hypodermis relatively thick in?
palms of the hands and soles of feet - acts as a shock absorber
Where is the hypodermis found?
Lowest layer of skin
What is the hypodermis also know as?
sub-cutaneous layer
Describe the structure of the hypodermis
- Mainly contains adipose tissue (some neurovascular bundles/lymphatics)
- Loose connective tissue – fibroblasts/ macrophages/fibres/mast cells
What are the 5 functions of hypodermis?
- Provides energy store – provides fuel to generate heat
- Insulator for underlying muscle heat generation
- Shock absorber – cushions impacts/protection for underlying structures e.g. think about fat on the buttocks when sitting
- Connects skin to underlying muscle and bones
- Makes hormones, e.g. leptin to control eating habits
Where is the dermis layer found?
Between epidermis and hypodermis
What is the dermis also know as and when combined with epidermis?
Corium AND with epidermis - cutis
Describe the structure of the dermis layer
Three layers
• Papillary - upper
• Reticular - lower - connective tissue
• Dermal papillae – interdigitating
What are the 3 functions of the dermis?
- Contains hairs and sweat glands - thermoregulation
- Contains sensory structures – special senses - touch
- Gives structure to skin and so body shape
What is the location of the epidermis?
Outermost layer made of epithelial cells (keratinocytes)
Describe the structure of the epidermis
- Four layers of cells in thin skin
- Five layers in thick skin
- Held together (laterally) by adherens junctions - layers held together by desmosomes
- Some terminal nerve endings
- NO blood vessels
What are the 5 functions of the epidermis?
- Prevents water loss - can absorb water as well
- Prevents entry to bacteria and parasites
- Special cells that present pathogens to immune cells
- Synthesis of keratin
- Prevents underlying tissue loss due to abrasion
What are the 4/5 layers of the epidermis?
- Stratum corneum
- Stratum lucidum
- Stratum granulosum (granular layer)
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum basale
Describe the stratum corneum layer
- Outermost layer made of squames (dead keratinocytes)
- Thick on palms and soles of feet – prone to injury
- Continuously shed
Describe the Stratum lucidum
- Only on palms and soles of feet
* Very thin layer
Describe the Stratum granulosum (granular layer)
• Stratified squamous epithelium
• contain Lamellar granules (filament-associated proteins that assemble keratin fibrils and secrete it)
• contain Tonofibrils (bundles of keratin filaments and keratohyalin granules)
made by lamellar bodies
Describe Stratum spinosum layer
• Cuboidal epithelium arranged in 3 layers (held together by
desmosomes)
• Producers of lamellar bodies (keratin factories)
• First time Golgi apparatus appears
Describe the Stratum basale (basal cell layer)
- Tall columnar epithelial cells
- Constantly renew keratinocytes by cell division
- As daughter cells differentiate they move away from the epidermis-dermis junction -They lose their ability to divide
- These make keratin filaments (tonofilaments)
- Also home to the melanocytes – produce melanin
Describe the keratin synthesis pathway
Starting at the bottom:
• Basal cell (keratinocyte)has intermediate keratin filaments(tonofilaments)
• As it divides, it makes cuboidal epithelial cells called spinous cells - first see the appearance of lamellar bodies (keratin forming factories )and mitochondria
• As the spinous cells move further away from basal surface, they differentiate into granular cells which contain keratohyalin granules and the Golgi apparatus
• This is where keratin is layed out
• As the cells move away from the surface, they die out(apoptosis) but are held together by desmosomes
• As they move further away, proteins are produced which break down the desmosomes - the squames can seperate
• The keratin fibrils are now called tonofibrils
Which cells synthesise keratin?
Keratinocytes - lamellar bodies found in keratinocytes.
Keratinocytes are found in basal layer and different into granular cells as they move up towards the stratum corneum
What are keratin the main constituents of ?
Hair, nail, animal horns
What is the normal transit time o a keratinocyte from basal layer to stratum corneum?
28-40 days
In which disease is the transit time reduced to 2-3 days?
Psoriasis
What does psoriasis result in?
• Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silver-coloured scales.
Describe what causes psoriasis
In individuals with psoriasis, the transit time from basal layer to stratum corneum is reduced. As a result, cells that have not yet fully matured accumulate in the stratum corneum and the outer layer of keratin, which is relatively thin is lost causing the signs of crusty red patches covered with silvery scales. The cells at the surface are also lost very quickly too as they are ‘rubbed’ off.
What are the 3 cells present in the epidermis?
Melanocytes
Langerhan cells
Merkel cells
What do melanocytes produce?
produce melanin, the main pigment that gives the skin its
colour produce more melanin