Chapter 5 Flashcards
What are the layers of the epidermis in thin and thick skin
Thin skin:
- stratum basale
- stratum spinosum
- stratum granulosum
- stratum corneum
Thick skin:
- stratum basale
- stratum spinosum
- stratum granulosum
- stratum lucidum
- stratum corneum
What are the 4 cells of the epidermis
- keratinocytes
- melanocytes
- intradermal macrophage
- tactile epithelial cells
Describe the function of keratinocytes
- produce the protein KERATIN (which is tough and fibrous)
- protects skin and tissues below from abrasions, heat, microbes and chemicals
- produce lamellar granules which release a water repelling sealant that reduces water entry and loss, and can prevent entry of foreign materials through the skin
Describe the function of melanocytes
- develop from ectoderm of developing embryo
- produce the pigment MELANIN, which are long slender projections that extend between the keratinocytes and transfer melanin granules to them
- melanin granules form a veil over the nucleus the shield keratinocytes from UV light
What is the function of intradermal macrophages
- arise from red bone marrow and migrate to the epidermis
- immune response against microbes by recognizing them and destroying them
What is the function of tactile epithelial cells
- found in the the deepest layer
- contact the flattened process of a sensory neuron (nerve cell) called tactile disc/merkel disc
- they detect touch sensations
Structure of the stratum basale
- deepest layer of the epidermis
- composed of single row cuboidal and columnar keratinocytes that contain scattered keratin intermediate filaments (tonofilaments)
- some cells in this layer (stem cells) undergo cell division to produce the keratinocytes
- the nucleus is large, and cytoplasms has ribosomes, small Golgi complex, few mitochondria, and some rough ER
- melanocytes and tactile cells are scattered among the keratinocytes
Structure of stratum spinosum
- second deepest layer of the epidermis
- has numerous keratinocytes in 8-10 layers
- cells are superficial and flat
- contagions keratinocytes produced from the stem cells of the basale layer, and the same organelles with some ability to divide
- keratinocytes produce coarser bundles of keratin in intermediate filaments than the other layers
- cells are round and large but can shrink and pull apart, except where membranes join with desmosomes
- spine like projections insert into desmosomes, which join cells to one another
- provide strength and flexibility
- contain interdermal macrophages and projections of melanocytes
Structure of stratum granulosum
- the middle layer of the epidermis
- 3-5 layers of keratinocytes that undergo apoptosis
- nuclei and organelles begin to degenerate as they are further away from the nutrition source (dermal blood vessels)
- keratin intermediate filaments no longer get produced and organelles in the cells regress
- dark stained granules of protein (keratohyalin) assembling keratin intermediate filaments into keratin
- also present in keratinocytes are membrane-enclosed lamellar granules that fuse with the plasma membrane and release lipid-rich secretions (water repelling sealant that decrease loss and entry of water and foreign materials) that get deposited in spaces between cells of this layer and the deeper layers
Structure of stratum corneum for thick and thin skin
- thin skin has a few- 30 layers of flat dead keratinocytes that range in thickness while thick skin has 50+ layers
- cells are flat and thin with the plasma membrane enclosed packages of keratin (no nucleus or organelles)
- is the final product of cell differentiation
- layers overlap, neighbouring layers of cells form strong connections with others
- the plasma membrane of adjacent cells are arranged like puzzle pieces that fit together
- cells shed and get replaced from the deeper layers which help protect the deep layers from injury and microbe invasions
- constant exposure and friction stimulates increase cell and keratin production
Structure of stratum lucidum
- 4-6 layers of flat, clear, dead keratinocytes with large amounts of keratin and a thick plasma membrane
- found at thicker skin regions like fingertips, palms and soles
What is apoptosis
Orderly, genetic program of cellular death, where the nucleus fragments before cells die off
Rate of cell division in stratum basale _________ when the outer layers of the epidermis are injured
Increases
What is the epidermal growth factor
A hormone like protein that speeds up cell division when other layers are damaged and regulates the growth
What is keratinization
New formed cells are pushed to the surface from one epidermal layer to another, and accumulating more keratin as it goes
Apoptosis occurs and cells slough off and get replaced
Structure of the dermis
- deep to the epidermis
- composed of dense irregular connective tissue
- contains collagen and elastic fibres (allowing for tensile strength- can stretch and recoil)
- thicker than the epidermis
- cells are fibroblasts, some macrophages, and few adipocytes
- contains blood vessels, nerves, glands and other embedded hair follicles
- essential for epidermis survival
- has 2 layers (thin superficial papillary and thick deep reticular)
What are the differences between the 2 dermal layers
— thin superficial papillary
(1/5th of thickness of dermis)
(contains THIN collagen and FINE elastic fibres, and an AREOLAR connective tissue)
(Dermal ridges that house blood capillaries, corpuscles of touch me free nerve endings)
— thick deep reticular
(4/5th of thickness of the dermis)
(Contain THICK collagen, COARSE elastic fibres, and DENSE IRREGULAR connective tissue)
(Has spaces between the fibres that contain adipose cells, hair follicles, nerves, sebaceous glands, and sudoriferous glands)
What is the basis for different skin colors
- melanin, hemoglobin, and carotene (all are pigments)
- melanocytes are the same in all people, however the amount of pigment that the melanocytes produce and transfer to keratinocytes is what makes the difference in skin color
Structure of hair (pili)
Composed of dead keratinized epidermal cells bonded by extracellular proteins
- hair shaft
- hair root
- hair follicle
- hair bulb
Hair shaft
Superficial part of hair, above skin surface
Hair root
Deep to the shaft, penetrates the dermis and subcutaneous layer
Has 3 layers:
- inner medulla: irregular cells; large amount of pigment
- middle cortex: form large part of shaft, elongated cells
- cuticle: outermost layer, thin flat cells, heavy in keratin
Hair follicle
-external root sheath; downward continuation of epidermis
- internal root sheath: forms cellular tubular sheath of epithelium between external sheath and hair
Hair bulb
At the base of the follicle
Houses papilla of hair, contains areolar connective tissue and blood vessels to nourish hair
Contains hair matrix from stratum basal where cell division occurs to produce new hair