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Derm > Intro to biology of the skin > Flashcards

Intro to biology of the skin Flashcards

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Dermatology Board Prep 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
Q

What is the embryonic origin of melanocytes?

A

neural crest, migrated during development

26
Q

Where are melanocytes located?

A

along the basal layer, surrounded by keratinocytes

27
Q
A

melanocyte

28
Q

What are Langerhans cells?

A

Dendritic cells in mid-epidermis with immunologic function

29
Q

What is the function of Langerhans cells?

A

Recognize abnormal antigens in skin; take them up, process, and present to lymphocytes in regional lymph nodes

30
Q

Langerhans cells are important in: (2)

A
  1. allergic reactions
  2. tumor surveillance
31
Q
A

Langerhans cell

32
Q

Where are Merkel cells located? What is their function?

A

mechanoreceptor cells located in the basal layer

33
Q

Dermis functions primarily in:

A

support

34
Q

Dermis contains:

A
  1. blood vessels
  2. lymphatics
  3. Nerves
  4. Sweat/oil glands
  5. Hair follicles
35
Q

Important CT proteins in the dermis

A

collagen, elastin, glycosminoglycans

36
Q

Injury to skin triggers:

A

mitosis of fibroblasts in dermis, which are responsible for wound healing and scar formation

37
Q

Important cells in dermis:

A

mast

fibroblast (MOST important)

38
Q

Hair follicles extend:

A

through dermis into the subcutis

39
Q

The pilosebaceous unit consists of:

A
  1. Hair follicle
  2. Associated sebaceous (oil) gland
  3. Apocrine sweat glands (in axilla and anogenital skin)
  4. Arrector pili muscle
40
Q

What are the “true” sweat glands, and what is their function?

A

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
Q

Subcutis serves as:

A
  1. insulation
  2. a source of energy
  3. protection from injury
42
Q

What is the subcutis?

A

Fat layer that separates dermis from underlying structures including fascia, muscle, organs

43
Q

What happens to “sunburn cells”?

A

Damaged keratinocytes (“sunburn cells”) apoptose, which is the normal response to damage

44
Q

Failure to “delete” damaged cells can result in what?

A

skin cancer

45
Q

Pemphigus vulgaris results from dysfunction of the ____ layer

A

spinous

46
Q

Bullous Pemphigoid results from dysfunction of the ____ layer

A

basal layer of the epidermis

47
Q

Genetic defects in filaggrin is associated with:

A

Atopic dermatitis

48
Q

What causes blister formation in Epidermolysis Bullosa?

A

genetic mutations in keratin 5/14 results in keratinocytes which break apart

49
Q

benign collection of melanocytes

A

Nevus (mole)

50
Q

What tissue layer functions as a permeability barrier?

A

epidermis

51
Q

Which tissue layers protect against pathogens?

A

epidermis

dermis

52
Q

Which tissue layers function in thermoregulation?

A

epidermis

dermis

subcutis

53
Q

Which tissue layer functions in UV protection?

A

epidermis

54
Q

Which tissue layers function in sensation?

A

epidermis

dermis

subcutis

55
Q

Which tissue layers function in wound repair and regeneration?

A

epidermis

dermis

56
Q

Which tissue layers function in physical appearance?

A

epidermis

dermis

subcutis

Derm (12 decks)

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