Integumentary System Flashcards
What are the components of the integumentary system?
The skin consists of a thin, superficial epidermis and a deep, thicker dermis. Deep to the skin is the subcutaneous layer, which attaches the dermis to underlying organs and tissues.
The integumentary system includes the skin and it’s accessory structures which include:
Hair, nails, and glands along with associated muscles and nerves.
What are the 6 functions of the skin?
Regulates body temperature, stores blood, protects body from external environment, detects cutaneous sensations, excretes and absorbs substances, synthesizes vitamin D.
What major types of tissues make up the epidermis and the dermis?
The epidermis is made up of epithelial tissue and the dermis is composed of connective tissue.
The epidermis consists of __ __ __ epithelium.
Keratinized stratified squamous
Which epidermal later includes stem cells that continually undergo cell division?
The stratum basale is the layer of the epidermis that contains stem cells that continually undergo cell division.
What is a skin graft?
If an injury destroys the stratum basale and it’s stem cells a skin graft is required which is the transfer of a patch of healthy skin taken from a donor site to cover a wound.
When blood is not picking up an adequate amount of oxygen from the lungs (someone who has stopped breathing) the mucous membranes, nail beds and skin appear ___.
Blueish or cyanotic
What is jaundice?
Is due to a buildup of the yellow pigment bilirubin in the skin which gives a yellowish appearance to the skin and the whites of the eyes.
What is erythema?
Redness of the skin is caused by engorgement of capillaries in the dermis with blood due to skin injury, exposure to hear, infection, allergic reaction, or inflammation
__ or paleness of the skin may occur in conditions such as shock and anemia.
Pallor
Hairs are growths of dead __ epidermal cells.
Keratinized
Which park of a hair produces a new hair by cell division?
The hair matrix produces a new hair by cell division.
Chemotherapy
Is the treatment of disease, usually cancer, by means of chemical substances or drugs.
Acne
An inflammation of sebaceous glands that usually begins at puberty, when the sebaceous glands are stimulated by androgens.
Nail cells arise by transformation of __ cells of the nail __ into nail cells.
Superficial; matrix
Why are nails so hard?
Because they are composed of tightly packed, hard, dead keratinized epidermal cells.
Transdermal (transcutaneous) drug administration
Enable a drug contained within an adhesive skin patch to pass across the epidermis and into the blood vessels of the dermis.
Ex: motion sickness, estrogen replacement, nicotine, fentanyl (pain for cancer patients)
In an epidermal wound, the injury is restricted to the __; in a deep wound, the injury extends deep into the __ and even the __ layer.
Epidermis; dermis; subcutaneous
Would you expect an epidermal wound to bleed? Why or why not?
Since the epidermis is avascular, an epidermal wound would not produce any bleeding.
Contributions of the integumentary system on maintaining homeostasis for all body systems is …
Skin and hair provide barriers that protect all internal organs from damaging agents in external enviro. Sweat glands and skin blood vessels regulate body temp needed for proper functioning of other body systems.
Excessive exposure to the sun is the cause of most __ cancers.
Skin
What are the 3 types of skin cancers?
Basal cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Malignant melanoma
A __ is tissue damage caused by agents that destroy the proteins in skin cells.
Burn
A first degree burn affects what layer of the integumentary system?
The epidermis
A second degree burn affects what layer(s)?
The epidermis and the dermis
A third degree burn affects what layer(s)?
Epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous layer (worst kind of burn!!!!)
Which type of skin cancer is the most common type?
Basal cell carcinoma
What factors determine the seriousness of a burn?
Determined by depth, and extent of the area involved, and the individuals age and general health
The rule of nines is a quick rule for estimating the surface area affected by a __.
Burn
What percentage of the body would be burned if only the anterior trunk and anterior left upper limb were involved?
About 22.5% of the body. 4.5% arm + 18% anterior trunk
Name the layers of the skin.
Epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous layer (hypodermis)
Describe the structure and function of the epidermis
The superficial portion of the skin, composed of epithelial tissue
Describe the structure and function of the dermis
The deeper layers of the skin, primarily composed of connective tissue
Describe the structure and function of the subcutaneous layer (hypodermis)
Lies deep within the dermis. Consists of areolar and adipose tissue. It serves as an area for fat storage, blood vessel passage, and pressure nerve endings.
The epidermis is composed of stratified squamous epithelium and contains 4 principal types which are:
Keratinocytes, malanocytes, Langerhans cells (intraepidermal macrophages), Merkel cells (tactile epithelial cell)
Describe the structure and function of keratinocytes
Produce the protein keratin, which helps protect the skin and underlying tissue from heat, microbes and chemicals. Keratin produces lamellar granules, which release a waterproof sealant.
Describe the structure and function of melanocytes
Produce the pigment melanin which contributes to skin colour and absorbs damaging ultra violet (UV) light.
Describe the function of Langerhans cells (intraepidermal macrophages)
Participates in immune responses
Describe the structure and function of Merkel cells (tactile epithelial cell)
Touch a sensory structure called a tactile (Merkel) disc, and function in the sensation of touch
List the 4/5 layers of the epidermis
Stratum basal, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum, stratum corneum
Explain the process of keratinization
The replacement of cell contents with the protein keratin, occurs when cells move to the skin surface over a period of 2-4 weeks
Describe the stratum basale
The deepest layer of the epidermis and contains some stem cells capable of undergoing cell division to form new cells. This layer is sometimes called the stratum germinativum to indicate its role in the formation of new cells.
Describe the stratum spinosum
Provides strength and flexibility to the skin
Describe the stratum granulosum
Marks the transition b/w the deeper, metabolically active strata and the dead cells of the more superficial strata. This layer is where a water repellent sealant forms b/w the cells.
Describe the stratum lucindum
Is present only in the fingers, palms and soles
Describe the stratum corneum
The most superficial layer; consists of dead cells. Lamellar granules in this layer make it water repellent. Constant exposure to friction causes this layer to increase in depth by forming a callus, an abnormal thickening of the epidermis.
The dermis, composed of connective tissue containing collagen and elastic fibres, has 2 regions which are __ and __.
Papillary layer; reticular region
Describe the papillary layer
Areolar CT that contains fine elastic fibres; dermal papillae; corpuscles of touch (Meissner’s corpuscles); free nerve endings for sensations of heat, cold, pain, tickle and itch.
Describe the reticular region
The deeper part of the dermis; consists of dense irregular CT that contains bundles of collagen fibres and some elastic fibres.
__ __ increase friction for better grasping ability and provide the basis for fingerprints and footprints. Typically, the ridges reflect contours of the underlying dermis.
Epidermal ridges
The wide variety of colours of skin and hair is due to 3 pigments in the dermis which are:
Melanin, carotene and hemoglobin (in blood capillaries)
Describe the general structure of hair
Consists of a shaft above the surface of the skin; root that penetrates the dermis and sub Q; and hair follicle consisting of 2 epidermal layers surrounding the root.
The non-living hair __ and living hair __ are contiguous w/one another and consist of an outer cuticle, an inner medulla and inner most cortex.
Shaft; root
The hair __ consists of an enlarged base called the hair __, a hair __ that has many blood vessels to nourish the growing hair and a hair __ that contains mitotically active cells to produce new hairs.
Follicle; bulb; papilla; matrix
What are the functions of hair?
Protection, decreasing heat loss, and sensing light touch.
List the glands that are associated with skin
Sebaceous (oil) glands, sudoriferous (sweat) glands - eccrine and apocrine; ceruminous glands
Describe the sebaceous (oil) glands
Usually connected to hair follicles; they are absent in the palms and soles. Produce sebum which moistens hairs, waterproofs and softens the skin, and inhibits bacterial growth.
Describe sudoriferous (sweat) glands and it’s 2 types
Eccrine sweat glands help regulate body temperature through evaporation, and eliminate wastes such as urea.
Apocrine sweat glands are modified sudoriferous glands that produce a waxy substance called cerumen. Found in the external auditory meatus.
What are the functions of the skin?
Thermoregulation, protection through physical, chemical and biological barriers, cutaneous sensations (touch, pressure, vibration, heat, tickle, cold, pain), excretion and absorption, synthesis of vitamin D.
