Anatomy of the integumentary system study guide

Question 1

What tissues and organs are part of the integumentary system?

Answer 1

• skin
• hair
• nails
• sweat glands
• sebaceous (oil) glands

Question 2

What are the 2 distinct regions of skin? What type of tissue is in each region?

Answer 2

1. epidermis: epithelial tissue
2. dermis: fibrous connective tissue

Question 3

Define hypodermis. What are its components and function?

Answer 3

superficial fascia
- not part of the skin
- subcutaneous layer deep to the skin
- mostly adipose tissue; absorbs shock and insulates
- anchors skin to underlying structures

Question 4

Memorize the 5 layers of the epidermis! Know where the epidermis has 5 layers vs 4 layers.

Answer 4

• thick skin has 5 (CLGSB)
• thin skin as four (CGSB)

Question 4

What are the 4 cell types in the epidermis?

Answer 4

• keratinocytes: produce keratin, connected by desmosomes, we lose millions daily
• melanocytes: produce melanin pigment, located in deepest epidermis
• dendritic (langerhans) cells: key activators of immune system
• tactile (merkel) cells: sesnroy receptors that sense touch

Question 4

Review the specifics on each of the 5 epidermal layers – slides 6 to 10.

Answer 4

• basal: bottom layer, attached to dermis, divides to produce daughter cells that migrate to the surface over days, 10-25% is made up of melanocytes
• stratum spinosum: pickly layer, several layers, thick, contains thick bundles of pre keratin filaments attached to desmosomes
• granulosum: cells flatten, cells above this layer die (too far from dermal capillaries, nuclei and organelles disintegrate, keratinization begins
• stratum lucidum: only thick skin, consists of think translucent band; 2-3 rows of clear flat dead keratinocytes
• corneum: 20-30 rows of flat a-nucleatued dead keratinized cells, thickest layer, protection for the deeper layers

Question 5

What does the dermis contain? What are the two layers of dermis?

Answer 5

• nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, epidermal hair follicles, oil glands, sweat glands
• papillary and reticular layers

Question 6

What type of connective tissue is found in the papillary layer? In the reticular layer?

Answer 6

papillary: areolar connective tissue
reticular: course, dense, fibrous connective tissue

Question 7

What are dermal papillae?

Answer 7

superficial region of dermis-contains finger like projections to the epidermis
- projections contain capillary loops, free nerve endings, and touch receptors (meissner’s corpuscles)

Question 8

Be familiar with the concepts of cleavage lines and flexure lines.

Answer 8

cleavage lines: caused by many collagen fibers running parallel to the skin surface (invisible but helpful for surgeons to avoid scarring)
flexure lines: dermal folds at/near joints (where dermis is connected to deeper structures, prevents skin from sliding around, seen in hands and toes)

Question 8

Know the function of Meissner’s/Tactile Corpuscles vs Pacinian/Lamellar Corpuscles.

Answer 8

meissners/tactile corpuscles = sense light touch
pacinian/lamellar corpuscles = sense deep pressue

Question 9

Where is the cutaneous plexus? What is it?

Answer 9

in the reticular layer
- network of blood vessels between reticular layer and hypodermis

Question 10

What 3 pigments combine to create skin color?

Answer 10

melanin, carotene, hemoglobin

Question 10

What causes blisters? Stretch marks?

Answer 10

stretch marks: dermal tears
blisters: acute, short term traumas to skin. they are fluid filled pockets between epidermal and dermal layers

Question 11

How does excessive sun exposure damage skin? Lead to skin cancer?

Answer 11

• elastic fibers clump, skin becomes leathery
• alteration in DNA and depression of the immune system can lead to skin cancer

Question 12

What abnormal skin color(s) could you note with the following medical conditions: cyanosis, pallor, erythema, jaundice, bruises.

Answer 12

• cyanosis: blueish skin color
• jaundice: yellow
• erythema: red
• pallor: pale
• bruises: black/blue

Question 13

What’s the difference between the hair root and the hair shaft?

Answer 13

shaft: area that extends above the scalp, keratinization is complete
root: area within the scalp, keratinization is ongoing

Question 13

What makes up hair? What functions does hair perform?

Answer 13

• consists of dead or keratinized cells
  functions:
• warn insects off skin
• guard against physical trauma
• protect from heat loss
• shield skin from sunlight

Question 14

What pigment determines hair color?

Answer 14

melanin/melanocytes

Question 15

What are the free edge, nail plate, eponychium, and hyponychium of a nail?

Answer 15

free edge: nail tip that grows off finger
nail plate: big flat part of nail
eponychium: cuticle, skin fold that project onto surface of nail body
hyponichium: area under the free edge of the nail plate

Question 16

What can cause nail clubbing?

Answer 16

low levels of oxygen/respiratory diseases

Question 17

What is contained in sweat?

Answer 17

water (mostly), some salts, vitamin c, antibodies, dermcidin (microbe-killing peptide), metabolic waste

Question 18

What’s the anatomical difference between eccrine and apocrine sweat glands?

Answer 18

Eccrine (merocrine):,not connected to hair follicle, smaller (palms, soles of feet, forehead)
apocrine: bigger, connected to hair follicle (axillary and anogenital areas)

Question 19

Where would you find eccrine vs apocrine sweat glands?

Answer 19

eccrine: palms, feet, forehead
aporcine: axillary, anogenital

Question 20

List two examples of modified apocrine glands.

Answer 20

• ceruminous glands: secrete earwax
• mammary glands : secrete milk

Question 21

What is secreted by sebaceous glands? Anatomically, sebaceous glands are typically linked to what?

Answer 21

• secrete sebum
• typically linked to hair follicle

Question 22

What causes acne and seborrhea?

Answer 22

acne = inflammation of sebaceous glands
seborrhea: overactive sebaceous glands in infants