Introduction to the Integumentary System Flashcards
What is the function of the skin?
- Secretion e.g. sweat and smell
- Absorption
- Protection
- Sensory
- Appearance
- Body temperature control
- Blood reservoir
What are the 3 layers of the skin?
Epidermis
Dermis
Hypodermis
What are the characteristics of the epidermis?
- Epithelial
- Non-vascular
- Protective
- Outermost layer
What are the characteristics of the dermis?
- Vascular
- Fibrous connective tissue
- Epithelial gland structures e.g. sebaceous glands and sweat glands
- Smooth muscle
- Sensory
Describe the vasculature of the dermis
It is capillaries which have extended upwards from large blood vessels within the hypodermis
Provides skin pigmentation
Function of connective tissue in the dermis
holds the skin together
Function of smooth muscle in the dermis
attached to smooth muscle which when it contracts causes goose bumps
Provides the pungent smell of animals as a defence mechanism
What is the sensory purpose in the dermis?
Allows the detection of pressure, temperature etc.
What are the characteristics of the hypodermis?
- Not skin
- Protective
- Adipose and loose
- Connective tissue
- Vascular
What is the function of connective tissue in the hypodermis?
Strength
A base structure for the dermal attachment
What is the 5 layers of the epidermis?
- Stratum basale
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum lucidum
- Stratum corneum
Describe the stratum basale
- Bottom layer of the epidermis
- Contacts the dermis
- made mainly of keratinocytes
- Has specialised epithelium and immune cells
Describe the stratum spinosum
Has weakly differentiated keratinocytes which express the karatin fibres and lamellar bodies
What are keratohyalin?
Keratinocytes which have gone to their next stage of differentiation
Describe the stratum granulosum
Keratohyalin and a hard protein envelope form
Lamellar bodies release lipids and cells die
Describe the stratum lucidum
Dead cells containing dispersed keratohyalin’s
Describe the stratum corneum
Dead cells with a hard protein envelope
The cells contain keratin and are surrounded by lipids
What is a keratinocyte?
A cell which is involved in wound healing due to its stem cell properties
Primary cell of the epidermis
It produces keratin
Where are keratinocytes formed?
Stratum basale
How do keratinocytes move to the surface
mitosis
How are keratinocytes connected to one another?
desmosomes
When is keratin produced?
as cells migrate
what is the function of filaggrin?
causes keratin to dimerise (keratinisation)
If a wound bleeds what does this mean and what is the function of keratinocytes?
You have cut the dermis
Keratinocytes heal the wound and they recruit immune cells to remove pathogens
How are the squamous epithelium made?
Through the binding of keratin and filaggrin
Within normal cells, what is the process of skin production
1) Within the stratum granulosum - profilaggrin is cleaved to small peptides
2) Filaggrin binds to keratin fibres causing cell flattening to squamous epithelium
3) Stratum corneum - keratin fibres tightly bound. Filaggrin degrades to hydrophobic amino acids and maintains skin moisture.
4) Intact barrier - prevention against pathogens
Within aczema patients, how is skin formed?
1) Filaggrin mutations reduce the amount of filaggrin in the skin
2) Keratin fibres do not form a dense, flattened barrier
3) Cracks in the skin barrier enable allergens and pathogens to penetrate dermis
4) Inflammation occurs causing irritation in the skin and other organs
How is eczema linked to asthma?
Due to the breakage in the skin, there is a higher chance of pathogens entering the skin
What can be used to reduce eczema-induced asthma?
Barrier creams
Function of melanocytes
produce pigment, melanin
How does melanin work?
Within the stratum basale, transfer of melanin to keratinocytes causes melanin accumulation to protect the nucleus from UV
What are merkel cells?
Neuroepithelial cells associated with sensory nerve endings
What receptor does merkel cells act on?
Mechanoreceptors
What is the neurotransmitter of merkel cells?
Glutamate
What are merkel cells sensitive to?
shear and pressure through desmosomal junctions
What are langerhan’s cells?
Epidermal dendritic cells
where are langerhan’s cells made?
Bone marrow
Where do langerhan’s cells migrate to?
Epidermis