Chapter 5: Skin Flashcards
2 Major layers of the skin
Epidermis and dermis
Hypodermis/Subq layer: location + composition
located deep to dermis and composed of areolar and adipose tissue
4 major types of cells in the epidermis
- keratinocytes
- melanocytes
- dendritic/langerhans cell
- Tactile epithelial cells (merkel cells)
Keratinocytes
- contains intermediate filament called keratin
- provide strength and protection
- are water repellent
- 85% of epidermal cells are keratinocytes
Melanocytes
- produce pigment
- their long slender projections extend between keratinocytes and transfer melanin granules
Dendritic cells
- their role in the immune response is to help other cells of the immune system recognize an invading microbe and destroy it
Tactile epithelial cells (merkel cells)
- detect touch sensations through non-encapsulated sensory corpuscle or merkel disc
- located in the deepest layer of the epidermis
(attached to sensory neuron)
Thin (hairy) skin covers…
all body regions except the palms, palmar surfaces of digits and soles
Thick (hairless) skin covers…
palms, palmar surfaces of digits, and soles. contains more layers of cells
The 4/5 layers of thick/thin skin
- stratum basale - deepest
- stratum spinosum
- stratum granulosum
- stratum lucidum (only present in thick skin)
- stratum corneum (most superficial layer)
Stratum basale
- deepest layer of the epidermis (closest to blood vessels)
- consist of single row of cuboidal or columnar cells
- stem cells undergo cell division to produce new keratinocytes (active mitosis)
- melanocytes and tactile epithelial cells associated with tactile discs are scattered among keratinocytes
connects to basement membrane (hemidesmosomes)
Stratum spinosum
- 8-10 rows of many-sided kertinocytes
- keratinocytes contain coarser bundles of keratin intermediate filaments
- ^ provides strength and flexibility to the skin
- desmosomes connect to cells and to intermediate filaments
- dendritic cells and melanocytes also present
Stratum granulosum
- middle of epidermis
- consists of 3-5 layers of flattened keratinocytes
- undergoing apoptosis (genetically programmed cell death)
- keratohyalin assembles keratin intermediate filaments into keratin
- lamellar granules release lipid rich, water repellant secretion
-transition between active and dead cells
Stratum lucidum
- present only in thick skin
- consists of 4-6 layers of clear, dead keratinocytes
Stratum corneum
- consists of 25-50 layers of flattened dead keratinocytes
- cells are continuously shed and replaced in this layer
- protects deeper layers from injury and microbial invasion
The dermis is composed of…
dense irregular connective tissue containing collagen and elastic fibers
The dermis can be divided into
thin superficial papillary dermis and thick deeper reticular dermis
Papillary dermis
- makes up 1/5th of thickness
- consists of areolar connective tissue with thin collagen and fine elastic fibers
- contains dermal papillae (nipple shaped structures) that contain capillary loops (blood vessels)
contain tactile corpuscles (meissner corpuscles) and nerve endings that are sensitive to touch
Reticular dermis
- deeper portion of the dermis (4/5ths)
- consists of dense irregular connective tissue with bundles of collagen and coarse elastic fibers
- space between fibers contain some adpose cells, hair follicles, nerves, sebaceous glands and sudoriferous glands
Where is melanin produced
in the stratum basale by melanocytes
Pheomelanin
yellow to red pigment
Eumelanin
brown to black pigment
Hair is composed of
dead keratinized epidermal cells
Parts of a hair
- the shaft
- the root
- the follicle
- hair bulb
The shaft of hair and it’s 3 parts
- superficial portion of hair
1. medulla- middle
2. cortex; surround medulla
3. cuticle of hair; hard protective layer