Chapter 8 The Integumentary System Flashcards
Integumentary System is comprised of what?
The integumentary system is comprised of the skin and its accessory components, including hair, nails, and associated glands
Integumentary System’s function is?
- Protects from bacteria/pathogens
- Balances fluid levels
- Stores fat/adipose tissue for energy supply and insulation
- Synthesizes vitamin D (with help from the sun and melanocytes and melanosomes)
- Provides sensory input (well innervated)
- Helps to regulate body temperature
What is the largest organ of the body?
The skin is the largest organ, covering an area about 20 square feet on an adult.
How many major layers does the skin have?
3
What are the 3 major layers of the skin?
Epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous Fascia
How many sublayers does the epidermis have?
5
Describe the Epidermis.
- No blood vessels
- Deepest layer produces a new layer every 2 to 4 weeks to refresh surface layer
- also known as Surface layer:
- Dead cells—flat, scaly, keratinized epithelial cells
- Skin underneath pushes up and old layers are removed
- Replaced by cells from deeper layers
What does Melanocytes do?
Produce melanin skin pigment through organelles called melanosomes
Where is the dermis located?
Inferior (anatomical term for below) to epidermis
The dermis have what kind of tissues?
Connective tissue holds the cells together
The dermis contains what accessory structures?
- Tiny blood vessels that act like a switching area, called capillaries
- Arector pili muscle
- Blood vessels, but smaller than veins or arteries called arterioles and venules
- Hair follicles
- Proper name for sweat glands sudoriferous gland(s)
sweat/sudoriferous glands are highly concentrated on this facial feature
forehead
If sweat has no odor, then how does body odor come to be?
Sweat has no odor, but bacteria degrade the substances in the sweat over time into chemicals that give off strong smells commonly known as body odor
Proper name for the oil glands
sebaceous gland(s)
What do sebaceous gland(s) do?
Secrete sebum (oil)
What is the function of the Secrete sebum (oil)?
Sebum (oil) keeps skin from drying out and (because of its acid nature) helps destroy some pathogens on skin’s surface.
Subcutaneous Fascia description
- Bottommost layer of skin
- Elastic and fibrous connective tissue that holds the upper layers to the muscle below
- Insulation through adipose (fat) tissue and store fat-soluble vitamins
Where are melanocytes located?
Located deep in the epidermal layer
How is skin pigmentation/colour determined?
skin pigmentation/colour determined by distribution and abundance of melanin
What is Carotene? & what does it do?
Carotene, another form of pigment, gives a orangish hue to skin.
A pinkish hue derives from what?
A pinkish hue derives from the hemoglobin in the blood
How does liver disease affect skin color?
When liver disease occurs, the skin turns a yellow color.
What disease can cause the skin to turn bronze and why?
Malfunctioning adrenal gland can cause the skin to turn bronze because of excessive melanin.
How does cyanosis affect skin color?
Cyanosis, or a blue coloring, results from a drop of oxygen
What is the process of skin healing?
Clotting/blocking of blood, inflammation, proliferation, then remodeling
What does clotting/blocking do?
- Important to prevent bleeding because blood is perfect for pathogens
- White blood cells protect the body from invasion
Why is inflammation important to skin healing?
Inflammation prevents further damage by making the area more sensitive
What occurs during Proliferation?
Proliferation is when all structures begin repair such as connective tissue, blood vessels.
How many degrees of burn are there?
4
What is the worst degree of burn?
The worst degree is the fourth degree with burns that penetrate all skin layers, muscle tissue and into the bone
What is the Rule of Nines?
The number rule associated with burns and the body’s coverage
What kind of animal skin has been used in recent years to help burn victims?
Fish skin
Why fish skin?
This skin has had great success due to anti-inflammatory properties and antibacterial
