Intro to derm Questions Flashcards
What are the basic components of the skin?
Epidermis (upper layer)
Dermis (below the epidermis)
Sweat glands, oil glands, hair, and nails (appendages found in dermis)
Subcutaneous fat (found under all of this!)
What are the layers of the epidermis? (in ascending order)
Basal layer (think b=basement/bottom)
Stratum Spinosum
Stratum Granusolum
Stratum Corneum - what you can see (think, you can see CORNS on the skin very easily)
(the stratum layers ascend alphabetically, think C at the top/first in alphabet, G in the middle, S last because later in alphabet )
What is the function of the epidermal basal cell layer?
PROLIFERATION! Cells are undifferentiated here (B=baby cells) and then rise upward where they become more specific/acquire keratin/shed! ***this is important for how fast medication will work - takes 4-6 weeks for the baby cells to travel, so the medicine may take 4-6 weeks to show any effect before old/affected cells will be shed and new ones are presented
What is the function of the epidermal stratum spinosum layer?
KERATIN! Keratinocytes produce keratin in this layer for cells from the basal layer
What is the function of the epidermal stratum granulosum layer?
DIFFERENTIATION! Cells will differentiate and gain more keratin here, become more flat, cemented together (inflammation usually occurs in this level)
What is the function of the epidermal stratum corneum layer?
STACKING AND SHEDDING! Cells are large, flat, and full of keratin and will stack together in layers, outer layers shed off (dry skin falling off in socks is stratum corneum)
Less layers= thinner skin like eyelids
More layers= thicker skin like back/palms/soles
What are melanocytes/where are they found?
Cells that produce pigment, found in basal layer of epidermis (pigment depends on how large these cells are and how fast/how much melanin they produce to protect from things like UV radiation/sunburn)
What are langerhans cells/where are they found?
Cells that provide immunologic function (present antigens to lymphocytes), found in epidermis
What components are found in the dermis?
Nerves, blood vessels, collagen/elastic fibers and appendages like: eccrine/apocrine sweat glands, hair follicles, sebaceous glands (i.e. pilosebaceous unit: hair follicle, hair shaft, sebaceous glands that produce oil) , and nails
What glands regulate sweat based on temperature/emotional stimuli? How do they travel from the dermis to epidermis?
Eccrine sweat glands, travel through a sweat duct that creates a path from the dermis to epidermis (they help with temp regulation)
What glands have no useful purpose/become more active at puberty/cause odor? Where are they found?
Apocrine sweat glands, usually in armpits (axillae) and anogenital areas, found deep in the dermis and travel along the hair follicle
What is the purpose of hair follicles?
Both protective (from the cold, sun, etc.), and decorative
What is short, fine, light colored hair classified as?
Vellus (think peach fuzz)
All of US have FUZZ (memory trick)
What is thick, coarse, dark colored hair classified as?
Terminal (hair on head, pubic hair)
What are the hair growth cycles?
ACT
Anagen (A=ACTIVE) growth phase!
Catagen (C=CALM) transition phase, hair stops growing
Telogen (T=TUMBLE) resting phase, hair will often shed /fall out
What is the purpose of sebaceous glands?
Produce sebum (oily substance), they are found anywhere hair follicles are except the palms and soles, primarily on face/scalp
REACH FULL SIZE AT PUBERTY= ACNE
What are nails made out of?
Keratin formed from dividing epidermal cells
What is the proximal nail fold and what does it protect?
Skin that sits over/protects the nail matrix or center of growth (contains cuticle)
What is the nail matrix?
Area where nails start to grow
Where is subcutaneous fat and what is it’s purpose?
Under the dermis, and before the fascia
provides insulation, cushion, and energy reserve
What does the nail plate adhere to?
Nail bed, if lifted: technically inflammation/infection/psoriasis in nail bed
What is a macule?
FLAT skin lesion, no texture, different color than surrounding skin (ex. freckle)
(Think MACk TRUCK ran over it, FLAT)
What is a papule?
Small and raised skin lesions (ex. mole, pimple)
What is alopecia?
partial or complete hair loss to a certain degree
Does not tell you WHAT is causing it, just a general term
Can scar or be non-scarring