Block 3

Question 1

Acronym: DEJ

Answer 1

dermal-epithelial junction
- attaches dermis to epidermis
- provides increased surface area and connection points for nutrient exchange and signaling

Question 2

Acronym: McSCc

Answer 2

melanocyte stem cells
- cells that give rise to melanocytes

Question 3

Acronym: HPA Axis

Answer 3

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
- feedback loop that manages the body’s stress response system

Question 4

Acronym: CRH

Answer 4

corticotropin releasing hormone
- part of the HPA axis that responds to increase stress through a positive feedback loop that signals the anterior pituitary gland

Question 5

Acronym: ACTH

Answer 5

adrenocorticotropic hormone
- part of the HPA axis that responds to the signal from hypothalamus and CRH, bringing it to the adrenal glands

Question 6

Acronym: FMP

Answer 6

final menstrual period
- marks the beginning of menopause and occurs around age 51.4

Question 7

Acronym: FSH

Answer 7

follicle stimulating hormone
- acts on granulosa (women) and sertoli (men) cells to stimulate follicle growth and hormone production

Question 8

Acronym: LH

Answer 8

luteinizing hormone
- acts on theca (women) and leydig (men) cells to stimulate hormone production

Question 9

Acronym: HPG Axis

Answer 9

hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis
- feedback loops between hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovaries (women) and testis (men)

Question 10

Acronym: GnRH

Answer 10

gonadotropin hormone releasing hormone
- part of the HPG axis and is secreted from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary gland

Question 11

Acronym: BMI

Answer 11

body mass index
- measures body fat based on height and weight and can be used as an indicator for when an individual may have the first or last period

Question 12

Acronym: HRT

Answer 12

hormone replacement therapy
- restoring hormone levels lost as a result of aging

Question 13

Acronym: WHI

Answer 13

women’s health initiative
- ~1975 pure estrogen in high concentrations was used for estrogen lost from menopause

Question 14

Acronym: SHBG

Answer 14

sex hormone binding globulin
- defines free vs total testosterone in men and is considered free when testosterone is NOT bound to SHBG

Question 15

Acronym: TRT

Answer 15

testosterone replacement therapy
- used in men to replace testosterone lost over time

Question 16

Acronym: ERT

Answer 16

estrogen replacement therapy
- used in women to replace estrogen lost as a result of menopause

Question 17

Acronym: CVD

Answer 17

cardiovascular disease
- includes coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and cardiomyopathy

Question 18

Acronym: CHD

Answer 18

coronary heart disease
- type of cardiovascular disease

Question 19

Acronym: BP

Answer 19

blood pressure
- large component of cardiovascular changes with age

Question 20

Acronym: NVU

Answer 20

neurovascular unit
- group of cells that regulates interactions between brain tissue and cerebral vasculature

Question 21

Acronym: BBB

Answer 21

blood brain barrier
- separates blood from cerebral spinal fluid

Question 22

Acronym: CSF

Answer 22

cerebral spinal fluid
- should not mix with the contents of blood in the brain

Question 23

Acronym: RPE

Answer 23

retinal pigment epithelium
- controls delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the retina

Question 24

Acronym: AMD

Answer 24

age-related macular degeneration
- leading cause of blindness in the US for ages 55+

Question 25

Acronym: GA

Answer 25

geographic atrophy
- progressed drusen leading to more progressed dry AMD

Question 26

Acronym: CNV

Answer 26

choroidal neovascularization
- new blood vessel growth through the macula causing wet AMD

Question 27

Acronym: AREDS

Answer 27

age-related eye disease study
- shows antioxidant and zinc supplements slowed progression of advanced AMD

Question 28

Acronym: PFC

Answer 28

prefrontal cortex
- used for short-term/working memory and concentration

Question 29

Acronym: AD

Answer 29

alzheimer’s disease
- type of dementia that causes activation of inflammatory pathways leading to plaques and tangles

Question 30

What are the major functions of the Integument System?

Answer 30

protective barrier, contains sensory receptors, vitamin D production, temperature and homeostasis regulation

Question 31

Define Intrinsic Aging

Answer 31

naturally occurring aging of the skin that depends on genetics and age
- ex: wrinkles, thickness, dryness, slower turnover, color patches, facial aging

Question 32

Define Extrinsic Aging

Answer 32

early deterioration of the skin due to exposure to sunlight, pollution, lifestyle, etc.
- ex: photoaging (UV exposure)

Question 33

Define Photoaging

Answer 33

skin exposure to UV that increase telomerase activity and damages fibroblasts that can lead to skin cancer

Question 34

List the 5 layers of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium in the epidermis

Answer 34

• stratum corneum (flaking)
• stratum corneum
• stratum granulosum
• stratum spinosum
• stratum basale

Question 35

Function of Keratin

Answer 35

creates a waterproof barrier and allows cells to communicate through tight junctions
- has minimal, but some telomerase activity

Question 36

What happens to keratin with age?

Answer 36

reduced production from keratinocytes that impairs the protective barrier leading to dryness

Question 37

Function of Melanin

Answer 37

produced by melanocytes and are involved in skin pigmentation and protection from UV exposure
- sun spots/age spots/dark spots result from localized high concentrations of melanin

Question 38

What happens to melanin with age?

Answer 38

altered secretion leads to color patches on the skin

Question 39

Function of collagen

Answer 39

structured network that provides integrity for tensile strength and firmness

Question 40

What happens to collagen proteins with age and what are some physical characteristics with age?

Answer 40

• collagenase activity increases
• fibroblasts activity decreases
• characteristics: wrinkles and fragile skin