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Anatomy 6511 - Exam Two Material > Integumentary System Histology > Flashcards

Integumentary System Histology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 2 Main Components of the Integumentary System?

A
  1. Skin

2. Epidermal Derivatives

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2
Q

List the epidermal derivatives

A
  • Hair follicles and hair
  • Sweat (sudoriferous) glands
  • Sebaceous (oil) glands
  • Nails
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3
Q

What are the 6 major functions of the Integumentary System?

A
  1. protective (barrier against external factors / forces / biological agents)
  2. immunologic (antigen presenting cells that alert effector cells)
  3. homeostasis (body temperature and water loss)
  4. sensory (convey information about the external environment)
  5. endocrine
  6. exocrine
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4
Q

What are the 2 principle layers of the skin?

& an additional notable layer

A
  1. Epidermis
  2. Dermis

(additionally, the hypodermis or subcutaneous layer / subcutaneous fascia is deep to the skin)

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5
Q

Epidermis

A

1 of the 2 principle layers of the skin

  • superficial layer
  • keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
  • embryologically derived from: ectoderm
  • avascular (receives nourishment from dermis)
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6
Q

Dermis

A

1 of the 2 principle layers of the skin

  • deep layer
  • connective tissue
  • derived from mesoderm
  • highly vascularized
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7
Q

Hypodermis

A

Otherwise known as the subcutaneous layer / subcutaneous fascia

  • deep to the skin (not a principle layer - the “3rd smaller layer”)
  • made of adipose tissue
  • vascularized
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8
Q

What are the histological terms for skin?

A
  • Thick Skin
  • Thin Skin

(these terms really aren’t accurate, because only the epidermis is being considered, while skin really consists of epidermis and dermis)

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9
Q

Thick Skin

A

(only referring to epidermal layer)

  • found on palms of hands and soles of feet (areas that encounter and high degree of abrasive forces)
  • skin is hairless
  • much thicker epidermal layer than skin anywhere else

-5 layers/strata

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10
Q

Thin Skin

A

(only referring to epidermal layer)

  • found everywhere except palms of hands and soles of feet
  • much thinner epidermis
  • hair follicles present in most locations

-4 layers/strata

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11
Q

When considering gross anatomy, where can you find the “thickest skin?”

A

The upper back (thin epidermis, very thick dermis)

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12
Q

List the Layers/Strata of the Epidermis

A

(from deep to superficial)

  1. Stratum Basale (basal layer)
  2. Stratum Spinosum (spinous layer)
  3. Stratum Granulosum (granular layer)
  4. Stratum Lucidum (thick skin only)
  5. Stratum Corneum

mnemonic: Bad Sprinters Get Leg Cramps

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13
Q

List the Cells of the Epidermis

A
  • Keratinocytes (85%)
  • Melanocytes (5%)
  • Langerhans’ Cells (2-5%)
  • Merkel’s Cells (6-10%)
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14
Q

Keratinocytes

A

epidermis cell (1/4)

  • principle cell type of the epidermis
  • produce keratins
  • participate in the formation of epidermal water barrier via production of the lamellar bodies
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15
Q

Keratins

A

produced by keratinocytes

  • a major structural protein of the epidermis
  • form keratin filaments (intermediate filaments, commonly referred to as tonofilaments)
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16
Q

Lamellar Bodies

A
  • produced by keratinocytes in order to form the epidermal water barrier
  • tubular / ovoid-shaped membrane-bound organelle that contain lipids
  • these are extorted into the extracellular space between the stratum granulosum and the stratum Corneum
  • the epidermal water barrier is important for homeostasis and having dry epithelia)
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17
Q

Melanocytes

A

epidermis cell (2/4)

function: produce and secrete the pigment, melanin (synthesized and stored in melanosomes)
- have elongated nuclei surrounded by clear cytoplasm
- dendritic cells (rounded cell bodies in the stratum basle with long dendritic processes that extend upward and between keratinocytes in the stratum spinosum)
- Melanosomes will be transferred into adjacent keratinocytes (when they mature, they travel to the ends of dendritic process, accumulate, then go to the adjacent keratinocytes)

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18
Q

Langerhans’ Cells

A

epidermis cell (3/4)

antigen-presenting cells of the immune system

typically found within stratum spinosum

derived from bone marrow (originate from common lymphoid progenitor cells), then enter the blood stream and migrate into the epidermis, where they encounter and process antigens that enter through the skin

travel through the epidermis through regional lymph nodes where they present processed antigens to the T lymphocytes

in order to ID, must use immunostaining

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19
Q

Merkel’s Cells

A

epidermis cell (4/4)

mechanoreceptor cells associated with sensory nerve endings

location: stratum basale

contains neurosecretory granules (within cytoplasm)

base of these cells associate with expanded, plate-like terminal of afferent nerve fibers (Merkel’s Corpuscle)

have lobed nuclei

most abundant in areas of acute perception (fingertips)

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20
Q

Stratum Basale

A

deepest later of epidermis (located adjacent and superior to dermis)

  • single layer of basophilic cells
  • cells are small and cuboidal / low columnar
  • mitotically active later that contains stem cells that give rise to keratinocytes (note that keratinocytes will migrate upwards and differentiate from here)
  • this is where the production of intermediate (keratin) filaments begins
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21
Q

Stratum Spinosum

A
  • keratinocytes exhibit numerous cytoplasmic processes (“spines”)
  • cell processes are attached to those of adjacent cells via desmosomes (macula adherens)

Intermediate filaments (tonofilaments) are grouped into bundles (tonofibrils)

We see that keratohyalin granules and lamellar bodies will start to be produced here

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22
Q

Cytoplasmic Processes & Histological Prep

A

during histological prep, cells shrink which leaves expanded intercellular space between spines

this is what contributes to the spiny / prickly appearence

23
Q

Keratohyalin Granules

A

Contain proteins that support the aggregation of tonofilaments into tonofibrils

These are produced in Stratum Spinosum, but are also found in other layers

24
Q

Stratum Granulosum

A
  • intensely basophilic
  • varies in thickness (1-3 cell layers)
  • keratinocytes contian keratohyalin granules, which will bundle tonofuilaments into tonofibrils
  • keratinization is happening here (conversion of granular cells into cornfield cells)
  • lamellar bodies are released in the intercellular space b/w stratum granulosum and stratum corneum
25
Q

Stratum Lucidum

A
  • only found in thick skin (palms of hands and soles of the feet)
  • this is a thin, translucent layer of eosinophiloc cells (that are largely keratinized)
  • nucleus and cytoplasmic organelles become disputed and disappear (as cells fill with more and more keratin
26
Q

Stratum Corneum

A

this is the most superficial layer of epidermis

  • cells lose nuclei and cytoplasmic organelle (flat, desiccated, a-nuclear cells)
  • filled almost entirely (85%) with keratin
  • cells of this layer are sloughed off at the surface
  • this is the most differentiated cell layer
27
Q

Key cell features of the Stratum Corneum

A
  • most superficial layer
  • most differentiated layer
  • cells are dead
  • represented only by flat membranous sacs filled with keratin
  • glycolipids in extracellular space
28
Q

Key features of the Stratum Granulosum

A
  • cells are flattened and organelle are deteriorating
  • cytoplasm full of lamellate granules (release lipids) & keratohyaline granules (continue to bundle the tonofilaments into tonofibrils)
29
Q

Key features of the Stratum Spinosum

A
  • cells contain thick bundles of intermediate filaments made of pre-keratin
  • we start to see the synthesis of keratin, and start to see them bundled into tonifibrils into keritohyaline granules)
30
Q

Key features of the Stratum Basale

A
  • cells are actively mitotic stem cells
  • some newly formed cells become part of the more superficial layers
  • where we start to see synthesis of keratin
31
Q

Melanin

A

within melanosomes, which are produced by melanocytes

melanin accumulates over nuclei to protect DNA from UV radiation (think of this as a nuclear umbrella)

32
Q

List 3 types of skin cancer with epidermal origin

A
  1. Basal Cell Carcinoma
  2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  3. Malignant Melanoma
33
Q

Basal Cell Carcinoma

A

most common and least aggressive type of skin cancer

resembles cells of stratum basale

slow-growing tumor

treatment: surgery

34
Q

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A

second most common, slightly more invasive

characterized by highly atypical cells at ALL levels of epidermis

treatment: varies depending on histological type, size, location

35
Q

Malignant Melanoma

A

most serious form

originates from melanocytes

presents as irregularly pigmented, multicolor lesion

treatment: surgery and chemotherapy

36
Q

List the two layers of the dermis

A
  1. Papillary Layer

2. Reticular Layer

37
Q

Papillary Layer

A

more superficial layer of the dermis

loose (areaolar) connective tissue

characterized by dermal papillae, which project into the epidermis at the epidermal-dermal junction

38
Q

Dermal Papillae

A

part of the papillary layer of the dermis

finger-like connective tissue protrusions

they project into the epidermis at the epidermal-dermal junction

has sensory nerve endings and blood vessels

39
Q

Reticular Layer

A

the deeper layer of the dermis

dense irregular connective tissue

considerably thicker than papillary layer. but has fewer cells

40
Q

Pacinian Corpuscles

A

large ovoid structures found in the dermis and the hypodermis

an encapsulated, mylenated nerve ending surrounded by a capsule consisting of concentric lamellae

inner core is made series of tightly packed, flattened Schwann cell lamellae surrounding unmyelanated axon

detects pressure and vibration changes across the skin surface

41
Q

Meissner’s Corpuscles

A

tapered, cylindrical structures

located in the dermal papillae of hairless skin (fingertips and lips) - perpendicular to the skin surface

flattened Schwann cells form lamellae

unmyelinated nerve endings follow s[oroca; paths in corpuscle

detect light touch

42
Q

Epidermal Skin Appendages

A

derived from down-growths fo epidermal epithelium during development

Includes:

  • hair follicles & hair
  • eccrine sweat (sudoriferous) glands
  • apocine sweat (sudoriferous) glands
  • sebaceous (oil) glands
43
Q

Hair

A

elongated filamentous, keratinized structures that project from hair follicles

found along surface of almost the entire body (but NOT thick skin)

44
Q

Hair Follicles

A

responsible for the production and growth of a hair

found along surface of almost the entire body (but NOT thick skin)

45
Q

Arrector Pili Muscle

A

smooth muscle that extends from connective tissue sheath surrounding hair follicle to papillary layer of dermis

contraction of the arrestor pili m. causes hair to “stand at end” (goosebumps)

role in insulation (thermogenesis ) & “fright” response

receives sympthatic innervation

46
Q

Eccrine Sweat (Sudoriferous) Glands

A

widely distributed (except the lips and portions of external genetalia)

simple coiled tubular gland

independent structures, not found in association with hair follicle

merocrine secretion (secretory product released via exocytosis)

role: thermoregulatory

excretes wastes and excess salts

has a secretory and a duct portion

47
Q

Eccrine Sweat Glands - Secretory Portion

A

double layer of epithelial cells

secretory cells are larger and appear lighter than cells of the duct

located deep in the dermis or upper part of the hypodermis

48
Q

Eccrine Sweat Glands - Duct Portion

A

narrower outside diameter and lumen than secretory portion

double layer of small cuboidal cells (stratified cuboidal epithelium)

cells are smaller and darker than cells of secretory potion

leads to the epidermal surface

49
Q

Apocrine Sweat (Sudoriferous) Glands

A

localized to the axillary and perineal regions of the body

produce viscous, protein-rich sweat

product is secreted into hair follicles

merocrine secretion (misnomer)

coiled tubular glands with very wide lumens

become functional at puberty

body odor: bacterial breakdown of sweat

50
Q

Aprocrine Sweat Glands - Secretory Portion

A

very wide lumen (much wider than eccrine sweat glands)

simple cuboidal epitherlium

eosinophilic cytpolasm

found in upper part of hypodermis (most commonly) or deep in dermis

apical portion - bleb-like protrusions, thought to be related to apocrine secretion, but TEM proved merocrin secretion

51
Q

Apocrine Sweat Glands - Duct Portion

A

stratified cuboidal epithelium (2-3 layers thick)

narrow lumen; similar to eccrine sweat glands

empties into follicle canal rather than the skin surface

52
Q

Subaceous (Oil) Glands

A

found everywhere except for thick skin

branched acinar gland

secretes SEBUM into hair follicles via holocrine secretion

Involved in acne development

53
Q

Sebum

A

lipid-containing substance produced and secreted by sebaceous glands

54
Q

Nails / Nail Plates

A

plates of keratinized cells rest on nail beds

nail is transparent (difficult to stain)

epithelium continues with stratum basle and stratum spinous of epidermis

Anatomy 6511 - Exam Two Material (1 decks)

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