Integumentery System Flashcards
What are the 3 main layers of the skin?
- Epidermis
- Dermis
- Hypodermis
How many layers and found in the Epidermis?
5
What cells make up 90% of the Epidermis?
Keratinocytes
What % of the epidermal layer are Keratinocytes?
90%
What is the function of Kertin?
- Protect skin from heath and minerals
- Contribute to skin colour
- Decrease water entry/loss
What % of the epidermal layer is melacytes?
8%
What is the role of Melanin?
Taken up by Keratiocytes to protect the nucleus from UV light
What % of the epidermis is Langerhan cells?
2%
How long does it take for a cell to travel from the bottom of the epidermis to the top?
2-3 weeks
What are the regions that the Dermal layer is divided into?
- Papillary
- Reticular
What are the functions of the papillary region?
- Comprises of connective tissue that attach to the epidermal layer and vascular network.
- Part of temperature regulation
- Dermal papillae contain nerve endings including pain and touch receptors.
What % of your dermis is the reticular region?
80%
What does the reticular region consist of?
Interlocking collagen fibres run in various plains
What does the Hypodermis consist of?
- Subcutaneous fat
- Connective tissue
- Sweat glands
- Muscle
What are the functions of the Hypodermis?
- Insulates
- Absorbs shocks
- Allows skin to move over underlying structures.
What are the functions of the skin?
- Thermo regulation
- Infection barrier
- Sensory protection
- Excretion of trace amounts of water and body waste
- Absorption of lipid soluble substances.
Define “Skin tare”.
Wound caused by shear, friction and/or blunt force result in separation of the skin layers.
What constitutes to a partial thickness skin tare?
Separation of the epidermal and the dermal layer
What constitutes to a full thickness skin tare?
Separation of the Epidermal, Dermal and hypodermal layers.
What changes in the Dermal layers with age?
- The Dermal and Epidermal junction thins with age
- The Subcutaneous layer becomes thinner
- Turnover of the keratinocytes reduces by 50%
What are the complications of skin tares in the elderly?
- Bleeding
- Delayed wound healing
- Cellulitis
- pain
- Localised infection
- Sepsis
What are the risk factors for skin breakdown/ poor skin integrity?
- Diabetes
- Oedema
- Corticosteroid use
- Dementia
What key things are being looked for in a skin assessment?
- Discomfort
- Skin integrity
- Colour changes
- Various in heat, firmness or moisture
