Integumentary System Flashcards
What is the skin classified as?
An organ which consists of several types of tissues and performs specific activities.
What are the two principal layers of the skin?
Epidermis and dermis.
What are the two types of skin?
Thin and thick skin.
Where is thick skin located?
On the palms of the hand and soles of the feet.
What is a key characteristic of thick skin?
There are no hair follicles and the dermis is folded into ridges.
What type of epithelium is the epidermis composed of?
Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.
Name the cell types found in the epidermis.
- Keratinocytes
- Melanocytes
- Langerhans’ cells
- Merkel cells
How many distinct layers are there in the epidermis?
Five.
What are the five layers of the epidermis?
- Stratum basale
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum lucidum
- Stratum corneum
What is the dermis composed of?
Two distinct regions: superficial and deeper parts.
What type of tissue makes up the superficial part of the dermis?
Areolar connective tissue and fine elastic fibers.
What is found in the outer layer of the dermis?
Nerve endings for touch, thermal sensations, pain, tickling, and itching.
What determines skin color?
- Melanin in the epidermis
- Carotene in the dermis
- Blood (hemoglobin) in the capillaries of the dermis
What is malignant melanoma?
A particularly serious skin cancer originating from melanocytes.
What are liver or age spots?
Non-cancerous clusters of melanin.
What are the accessory organs of the skin?
- Hair
- Glands
- Nails
What are the two main parts of each hair?
- Shaft
- Root
What is the base of the hair follicle called, what is its shape?
The bulb, an onion shape
Name 3 types of glands in the skin?
Sebaceous, sudoniferous, and ceremonious glands
What do sebaceous glands secrete, and it’s purpose?
Sebum, prevents skin dryness, water evaporation, keeps skin soft, and inhibits bacterial growth.
What are blackheads or pimples caused by?
The enlargement of sebaceous glands due to unreleased sebum.
What are the two types of sudoriferous (sweat) glands?
Apocrine and eccrine glands.
Where are eccrine glands found?
Throughout the skin except lips, nails, and ear drums.
What do ceruminous glands produce, and where are they located?
Cerum (earwax), located in the external ear.
What is the function of nails?
Help grasp and manipulate small objects and protect the ends of the fingers and toes.
List the 5 functions of the skin?
Regulation of body temperature, protection, cutaneous sensation, excretion and absorption, synthesis of vitamin D.
Where do most age-related changes occur in the skin?
In the dermis.
What happens to collagen and elastic fibres in the dermis as we age?
Collagen fibres decrease in number, stiffen, and break apart. Elastic fibres lose elasticity, thicken into clumps, and contribute to wrinkles.
