Integumentary System Flashcards
How often does the epidermis regenerate itself?
28 days
Which is avascular - epidermis or dermis?
Epidermis
What layer of the skin does a punch biopsy go into?
Goes deeper into subcutaneous tissue - provides full thickness skin
What is an excisional biopsy used for?
Safety margin (border of the mole that needs to be taken off) is cut, where the mole and border will be tested in the lab
What is an incisional biopsy used for?
individual has a skin tag that is snipped, part of the structure stays - useful for when a larger specimen than a shave biopsy is needed
What is a shave biopsy used for?
epidermis and a small amount of the dermis is shaved off
What is a wood’s lamp used for?
highlights any areas of concern on the epidermis
Examination of skin with long-wave ultraviolet light causes specific substances to fluoresce
What is the difference between a sublethal and lethal cell injury?
Sublethal – alters cell function, without cell destruction (i.e., cellulitis); is reversible if harm is removed
Lethal – irreversible process that causes cell death
What is necrosis?
Tissue death that occurs as a result of a traumatic injury, infection, ischemia, or exposure to a toxic chemical that causes a local inflammatory response
Define the mononuclear phagocyte system
Recognition and phagocytosis of foreign material such as microorganisms, removal of old or damaged cells from circulation, and participation in the immune response
A defence against injury
Describe the inflammatory response
system attacks and neutralizes any threats attacking it, creates an environment suitable for healing
Define the vascular inflammatory response (i.e., blood clotting)
Vasoconstriction to stop bleeding, platelets adhere forming a fibrin clot to seal the vessel and release histamines, histamines then cause vasodilation to promote WBC healing and repair, serous fluid may build up (clear) or purulent fluid (yellow fluid)
How will blood work present with inflammatory response?
Will first see a high level of neutrophils in the blood, followed by monocytes.
As the healing process continues, you will see an increase to macrophages
What will blood work show with allergic reactions?
will show increases to eosinophils and basophils
What is the cellular response to inflammation?
Neutrophils have a short lifespan (24-48 hours) and phagocytize bacteria/damaged cells, then the monocytes, followed by macrophages that assist in phagocytosis of the inflammatory debris
Describe the three chemicals that respond to injury
- Histamines cause vasodilation
- Serotonin provides a sense of wellbeing and also causes vasodilation
- Kinins cause smooth muscles to contract and tighten to allow blood to go where it needs to be
List the four different types of exudate
- Serous
- Sero-sang
- Sanguineous
- Purulent
Define serous and sero-sang
Serous - clear, normal
Sero-sang - mixture of serous and sanguineous fluid; could be expected or unexpected drainage (blood and serous fluid)
Define sanguineous and purulent
Sanguineous – blood; can be expected or unexpected, dependent on the case
Purulent – infection, strong odour, yellow/green in colour
What are systemic symptoms associated with purulent fluid?
Patient may present with a fever – good for this healing, elevation in WBC, increased HR, increased ventilation, malaise (abnormally tired, low energy, discomfort, restlessness), anorexia (low appetite), chills, flushing of the face and skin, sweating (diaphoresis)
Describe the difference between acute and chronic inflammation
Acute – healing occurs in 2-3 weeks and usually leaves no residual damage
Chronic - wound takes longer to heal and does not heal on a normal pathway
List the 5 defences against injury
- Mononuclear phagocyte system
- Inflammatory response
- Cellular
- Chemical
- Exudate
Define regeneration
Lost cells and tissue are replaced with cells of the same type
What type of repair begins the healing process?
Regeneration
Define primary intention and list its stages
Takes place when wound margins are neatly approximated, as in a surgical incision or paper cut
- Initial inflammation phase
- Granulation phase
- Maturation phase and scar construction/formation
Describe the initial inflammation phase
Lasts for 3 to 5 days, the edges of the incision are aligned and sutured in place. The incision area fills with blood from cut blood vessels and blood clots form and platelets release growth factors to begin the healing process