Intro to biology of the skin Flashcards

1
Q

What is the epidermis comprised of?

A

primarily keratinocytes melanocytes, Langerhans cells, Merkel cells

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2
Q

What is the dermis comprised of?

A

Fibroblasts, collagen, elastic (fibers?), blood vessels, nerve endings

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3
Q

What is the subcutis comprised of?

A

Fat, blood vessels, fibrous septae

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4
Q

Function of epidermis?

A

barrier function, protection, wound healing

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5
Q

Function of dermis?

A

structural support, vascular support and innervation

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6
Q

How does the epidermis replace itself?

A

Every 28+ days: 1. cells grow from stem cells in the basal layer 2. terminally differentiate as they move upwards 3. shed from the surface

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7
Q

4 layers of epidermis? (top to bottom)

A
  1. stratum corneum
  2. stratum granulosum
  3. stratum spinosum
  4. stratum basale
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8
Q

What is produced in the basal layer?

A

stem cells

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9
Q

How do basal cells adhere to dermis?

A

hemidesmosomes

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10
Q

What occurs in the spinous layer?

A

cells stop dividing and commence terminal differentation

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11
Q

What are produced in the spinous layer?

A

lipids (lamellar granules) which are important in barrier function

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12
Q

What makes the spinous layer “spiny”?

A

visible desmosomes with which one KC adheres to another

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13
Q

How do keratinocytes adhere to one another?

A

desmosomes in the spinous layer

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14
Q

What is synthesized in the granular cell layer?

A

Intracellular keratohyaline granules containing profilagrin

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15
Q

Desmosomes are located in the _____ layer.

Hemidesmosomes are located in the _____ layer.

A

Spinous

Basal

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16
Q

What forms the water barrier within the granular layer to keep water in skin?

A

Lipids in lamellar granules (formed in spinous layer) secreted into intercellular space

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17
Q

Where is profilaggrin synthesized? Where is it processed?

A
  1. granular layer
  2. stratum corneum (into flaggrin)
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18
Q

What makes the stratum corneum protective?

A
  1. keratinocytes (keratin + flaggrin combined to form microfibrils)
  2. lipid mixture surrounding keratinocytes, which provide water barrier
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19
Q

What is the stratum corneum comprised of?

A
  1. flattened cells with degenerated nuclei/organelles
  2. flattened keratinocytes(filled with keratin and flaggrin)
  3. lipid mixture surrounding keratinocytes
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20
Q

Over 40+ different keratins combine to form…

A

intermediate filaments, whose pairs differ by location

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21
Q

Keratin is comprised of large amounts of what amino acid?

A

cysteine (especially hair/nails)

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22
Q

What is the function of keratin?

A

Mechanically stabilize cell against physical stress

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23
Q

What’s this?

A

melanocyte

24
Q

What is the function of melanocytes?

A

trasfer pigment (malanin) to keratinocytes via dendritic processes

25
What is the embryonic origin of melanocytes?
neural crest, migrated during development
26
Where are melanocytes located?
along the basal layer, surrounded by keratinocytes
27
melanocyte
28
What are Langerhans cells?
Dendritic cells in mid-epidermis with immunologic function
29
What is the function of Langerhans cells?
Recognize abnormal antigens in skin; take them up, process, and present to lymphocytes in regional lymph nodes
30
Langerhans cells are important in: (2)
1. allergic reactions 2. tumor surveillance
31
Langerhans cell
32
Where are Merkel cells located? What is their function?
mechanoreceptor cells located in the basal layer
33
Dermis functions primarily in:
support
34
Dermis contains:
1. blood vessels 2. lymphatics 3. Nerves 4. Sweat/oil glands 5. Hair follicles
35
Important CT proteins in the dermis
collagen, elastin, glycosminoglycans
36
Injury to skin triggers:
mitosis of fibroblasts in dermis, which are responsible for wound healing and scar formation
37
Important cells in dermis:
mast fibroblast (MOST important)
38
Hair follicles extend:
through dermis into the subcutis
39
The pilosebaceous unit consists of:
1. Hair follicle 2. Associated sebaceous (oil) gland 3. Apocrine sweat glands (in axilla and anogenital skin) 4. Arrector pili muscle
40
What are the “true” sweat glands, and what is their function?
eccrine sweat glands, which are not associated with a hair follicle Open directly onto the skin, and function to regulate temperature by evaporative cooling of sweat
41
Subcutis serves as:
1. insulation 2. a source of energy 3. protection from injury
42
What is the subcutis?
Fat layer that separates dermis from underlying structures including fascia, muscle, organs
43
What happens to "sunburn cells"?
Damaged keratinocytes (“sunburn cells") apoptose, which is the normal response to damage
44
Failure to "delete" damaged cells can result in what?
skin cancer
45
Pemphigus vulgaris results from dysfunction of the ____ layer
spinous
46
Bullous Pemphigoid results from dysfunction of the ____ layer
basal layer of the epidermis
47
Genetic defects in filaggrin is associated with:
Atopic dermatitis
48
What causes blister formation in Epidermolysis Bullosa?
genetic mutations in keratin 5/14 results in keratinocytes which break apart
49
benign collection of melanocytes
Nevus (mole)
50
What tissue layer functions as a permeability barrier?
epidermis
51
Which tissue layers protect against pathogens?
epidermis dermis
52
Which tissue layers function in thermoregulation?
epidermis dermis subcutis
53
Which tissue layer functions in UV protection?
epidermis
54
Which tissue layers function in sensation?
epidermis dermis subcutis
55
Which tissue layers function in wound repair and regeneration?
epidermis dermis
56
Which tissue layers function in physical appearance?
epidermis dermis subcutis