Integumentary System: Skin Flashcards
What is the function of the integumentary system?
- protection
- containment
- heat regulation
- sensation
- synthesis and storage
What are the layers of the integumentary system?
- epidermis (superficial)
- dermis (deep)
What are the layers of the fascia?
- superficial
- deep
Describe the epidermis
- tough, keratin outer surface
- sheds every 25-45 days
- avascular
- afferent nerve endings (touch, pain, temperature)
Describe the dermis
- deep layer of the skin
- dense, strong layer of collagen and elastic fibers
- contains tension lines
- contains hair follicular, arrector pili muscles, & sebaceous glands
What are tension lines?
- created by collagen fibers
- dermis layer
- keeps skin taut (tight)
Describe the arrector pili muscles
- contraction causes hair follicles to stand up straight
- flexed muscles create goosebumps
- flexed muscle compresses sebaceous glands & releases oil onto skin
Describe the superficial fascia layer
- subcutaneous tissue
- contains loose connection tissue & fat (fat storage)
- between dermis & deep fascia
- contains sweat glands, blood vessels, lymph vessels, cutaneous nerves
Describe the deep fascia layer
- dense, organized connective tissue
- contains NO fat
- covers all body parts deep to skin
- divides muscles via intermuscular septa
What is the intermuscular septa?
divides skeletal muscles
What does the deep fascia form?
- retinaculum (ex: flexor & extensor retinaculum)
- bursae (ex: subacrmial bursa)
What are bursae?
fluid filled sacs
What is Dupytren’s Contracture?
- contraction of the superficial fascia of the hand
- involves one or more digits
- may affect vessels (veins OR arteries)
- does NOT affect tendons
How do you treat Dupytren’s Contracture?
- does NOT respond to conservative therapy
- treatment through steroid OR collagenase injections or open surgery
How do surgeons work with tension lines during surgery?
- work parallel to tension lines to promote better healing & less scarring
What happens if surgeons cut across tension lines?
- longer healing time
- can restrict movement and cause scarring (keloids)
What are the burn classifications?
- superficial burns
- partial thickness burn
- full thickness burn
What skin layer do superficial burns affect?
superficial epidermis
What skin layer do partial thickness burns affect?
- epidermis
- superficial dermis
What skin layer do full thickness burns affect?
- epidermis
- dermis
- may include muscle and bone
Define decubitus ulcers (pressure ulcers)
- also known as pressure ulcers
- type of skin damage that occurs when constant pressure if applied to an area for an extended amount of time
- can reduce blood flow to the affected area, leading to tissue damage and death
What are the characteristics of a Stage 1 decubitus (pressure) ulcer?
- damage is limited to the epidermis
- skin is red, non-blancheable, and intact
What are the characteristics of a Stage 2 decubitus (pressure) ulcer?
- produces an open wound, with partial thickness skin loss
- damage occurs to the epidermis & dermis
- wound is red & moist or a serous filled blister occurs
What are the characteristics of a Stage 3 decubitus (pressure) ulcer?
- damage to the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous layer
- bone, tendon, and muscles are not visible
- undermining and tunneling may occur
- tunneling: linear damage that only occurs in one direction that penetrates deeply underneath the skin
- undermining: damage underneath the wound edge that spans a wider area in multiple directions
