Ch. 6 short answer Flashcards
How is the dermis different than the epidermis?
The dermis is primarily fibrous while the epidermis is is primarily cellular. The dermis contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, glands, and hair follicles while the epidermis only contains cells. Multiple cell types can be found within the dermis, while kertainocytes are the vast majority of cells found in the epidermis.
Explain the process of keratinization.
Keratinocytes located in basal layer of the epidermis are close to blood supply and well nourished. They continuously divide by asymetrical cell division. Daughter cells are oriented on top of parent cells and as divisions occur the daughter cells are continusouly pushed away from the blood supply of the basement layer. As the cells move upward, they loose acess to nutrients and begin to die. They lose their nuclei, cytosol and organelles and fill with keratohyaline granuels. By the time the reach the superficial layers they are completely filled with keratin granuales.
