206 SSNS - Physiology Flashcards
Functions of skin (7)
Thermoregulation Blood reservoir Protection Cutaneous sensations Excretion Absorption Production of Vitamin D
What happens in the skin when there’s an increase in temperature?
Increase in temperature → sweat production
- Evaporation of sweat colls body
Increase heat loss - vasodilation
What happens in the skin when there’s a decrease in temperature?
Decrease in temperature → decrease sweat
Reduction in blood flow to dermal blood vessels - reduce heat loss
What happens to skin during shock?
Vasoconstriction of skin vessels occurs to divert blood to heart & brain; skin appears cold & pale
Keratin
Role in skin
Outermost layer of skin
Protects skin from abrasion, heat, chemicals
Tightly interlocked keratinocytes prevent entry of microbes
Oily sebum
Role in skin
Produced by sebaceous glands
Prevent drying of hair & skin
Contains bactericidal substances
Lipids
Role in skin
Prevent evaporation of water from skin surface & prevents dehydration
Also prevent entry of water into body during showers & swims
Acidic pH of sweat
Role in skin
Prevents growth of microbes
Melanin
Role in skin
Protects from damaging effects of UV rays
Epidermal and dermal macrophages
Role in skin
Phagocytose microbes that enter skin
What are the cutaneous sensations sensed by skin?
Touch Vibration Pressure Tickle Itch Pain Temperature
What can be absorbed through skin?
Fat soluble substances Acetone Carbon tetrachloride Salts of heavy metal Steroid Transdermal patches
How does UV light aid the production of vitamin D?
Activates precursors - conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to vitamin D3
Fill in the blanks:
Rods with ______ receptive field has ______ acuity.
larger; low
Fill in the blanks:
Cones with ______ receptive field has ______ acuity.
smaller; high
What is the mechanism of phototransduction?
- Rhodopsin activated by light
- 11-cis retinal absorbs light → all-trans retinal
- All-trans retinal dissociates from opsin (retinal bleaching)
- Activated opsins activates G protein transducin
- Transducin activates cGMP phosphodiesterase, converts cGMP → GMP
- cGMP levels ↓, closing Na+ channels
- ↓ entry of Na+ → photoreceptor hyperpolarized
What supplies the inner layer of retina?
Central retinal artery
What supplies the outer layer of retina?
Choroid vessels
In retinal detachment, ______ detaches from ______?
Retina; pigment layer
Why is it possible for a detached retina to survive for few days?
Diffusion from choroid vessels & supply by central retinal artery still occurs
Vision cycle
regeneration of visual pigment in rods
- Light absorbed by rhodopsin
- Rhodopsin decompose → all-trans retinal (instant change from cis form) & scotopsin (retinal bleaching)
- Isomerase reconvert all-trans → 11-cis
- 11-cis retinal binds with scotopsin to reform rhodopsin
How does vitamin A play a role in the vision cycle?
Vit A is present in cytoplasm of rods & pigment of retina
Hence is always available to form new retinal when needed
If excess retinal in retina, converted back to vit A
During darkness, the photoreceptors are ______.
Depolarized
During light, the photoreceptors are ______.
Hyperpolarized