MS CH 53 Integumentary System Function Assessment and Therapeutic Measures Flashcards
What are the two main layers of the skin?
Epidermis and dermis.
What is the function of the epidermis?
Acts as a protective barrier against infection, injury, and dehydration.
What protein do keratinocytes produce?
Keratin, which strengthens the skin and makes it waterproof.
What is the outermost layer of the epidermis?
Stratum corneum.
Where does mitosis occur in the epidermis?
Stratum germinativum.
What cells produce melanin?
Melanocytes.
What is the function of melanin?
Provides skin color and protects against UV radiation.
What are Langerhans cells?
Macrophages in the epidermis that help fight infections.
What layer of the skin contains collagen and elastin fibers?
Dermis.
What is the function of the dermis?
Provides strength, elasticity, and contains sensory receptors, glands, and blood vessels.
What is the hypodermis (subcutaneous layer) composed of?
Adipose and areolar tissue.
What are the functions of the hypodermis?
Insulation, energy storage, and cushioning.
What are the two types of sweat glands?
Eccrine and apocrine glands.
Where are eccrine sweat glands found?
All over the body, especially palms, soles, and forehead.
What is the function of eccrine glands?
Regulate body temperature through sweating.
Where are apocrine sweat glands located?
Axilla (armpits) and groin.
When do apocrine glands become active?
During puberty.
What do sebaceous glands produce?
Sebum (oil).
What is the function of sebum?
Lubricates skin and hair, preventing dryness.
What is the function of hair?
Protects against debris, regulates temperature, and provides sensory input.
What causes hair to stand up in cold temperatures?
Arrector pili muscles contract, creating “goosebumps.”
What is alopecia?
Hair loss.
What are the functions of nails?
Protect fingers and toes, assist in grasping objects.
What is the nail made of?
Keratin.
What are common age-related skin changes?
Thinning skin, decreased elasticity, dryness, slower healing.
What is turgor?
Skin elasticity, used to assess hydration.
What is the best site to check turgor in older adults?
Over the sternum.
What are signs of dehydration in the skin?
Tenting (slow return of pinched skin).
What is pallor?
Pale skin due to decreased blood flow or anemia.
What is erythema?
Red skin due to increased blood flow or inflammation.
What is jaundice?
Yellowing of the skin due to liver disease.
What is cyanosis?
Blue discoloration due to low oxygen levels.
What are petechiae?
Small red or purple spots caused by bleeding under the skin.
What is ecchymosis?
Bruising caused by blood leaking into tissues.
What are primary skin lesions?
Initial changes to the skin, such as macules, papules, vesicles.
What are secondary skin lesions?
Changes to primary lesions, such as ulcers, scars, fissures.
What is a macule?
A flat, non-palpable skin discoloration (e.g., freckles).
What is a papule?
A raised, solid skin lesion less than 1 cm (e.g., wart).
What is a vesicle?
A fluid-filled blister (e.g., chickenpox).
What is a pustule?
A pus-filled lesion (e.g., acne, impetigo).
What is a wheal?
A raised, itchy area of swelling (e.g., hives).
What is a cyst?
A closed sac filled with fluid or semisolid material.
What is an ulcer?
A deep skin lesion that extends into the dermis.
What is a keloid?
Excessive scar tissue formation beyond the wound site.
What is a pressure injury?
Skin breakdown due to prolonged pressure on bony areas.
What is a stage 1 pressure injury?
Non-blanchable redness on intact skin.
What is a stage 2 pressure injury?
Partial-thickness skin loss, may appear as a blister.
What is a stage 3 pressure injury?
Full-thickness skin loss exposing fat tissue.
What is a stage 4 pressure injury?
Full-thickness skin loss exposing muscle or bone.
What is the best way to prevent pressure injuries?
Frequent repositioning, good nutrition, skin assessments.
What is debridement?
Removal of dead tissue to promote wound healing.
What are hydrocolloid dressings used for?
Protecting pressure injuries and promoting healing.
What is a Wood’s light exam?
A UV light test to detect fungal or bacterial infections.
What is a patch test used for?
Diagnosing allergic skin reactions.
What is a skin biopsy?
A procedure to remove and examine skin tissue for diagnosis.
What are three types of skin biopsies?
Punch, shave, and incisional.
What is a fungal culture used for?
Diagnosing skin infections like ringworm.
What is balneotherapy?
Therapeutic baths for wound care and itching relief.
What is the main treatment for bacterial skin infections?
Antibiotics.
What is the main treatment for viral skin infections?
Antiviral medications.
What is the main treatment for fungal skin infections?
Antifungal creams or oral medications.
What is the purpose of occlusive dressings?
To keep wounds moist and promote healing.
What is the function of collagen dressings?
To stimulate tissue growth and wound healing.
What is a transparent film dressing used for?
Protecting wounds while allowing moisture exchange.
What is an alginate dressing used for?
Absorbing excess wound exudate.
How should topical steroids be applied?
In a thin layer to affected areas only.
What is the main risk of overusing topical steroids?
Skin thinning and increased infection risk.
What is the purpose of antihistamines in skin disorders?
Reduce itching and allergic reactions.
How can patients prevent skin infections?
Good hygiene, avoiding skin trauma, and managing chronic conditions.
What is the primary function of the integumentary system?
Protection against infection, dehydration, and injury.
What are the three main layers of the skin?
Epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis.
What is the outermost layer of the epidermis?
Stratum corneum.
What layer of the skin contains blood vessels and nerves?
Dermis.
What layer of the skin contains fat for insulation?
Hypodermis (subcutaneous tissue).
What is the function of collagen fibers in the dermis?
Provide strength to the skin.
What is the function of elastin fibers in the dermis?
Provide elasticity to the skin.
What is the function of sensory receptors in the skin?
Detect temperature, touch, pressure, and pain.
What is the function of sweat glands?
Regulate body temperature by releasing sweat.
What are the two types of sweat glands?
Eccrine and apocrine glands.
What is the function of sebaceous glands?
Produce sebum (oil) to lubricate skin and hair.
What type of sweat gland is active at birth?
Eccrine glands.
What type of sweat gland becomes active during puberty?
Apocrine glands.
What is the function of the arrector pili muscle?
Causes hair to stand up, creating “goosebumps.”
What is the role of the skin in vitamin D synthesis?
Converts cholesterol to vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.
What is keratin?
A tough protein that makes skin waterproof.
What is the main function of melanin?
Protects skin from UV radiation.
What is a first-degree burn?
A superficial burn affecting only the epidermis.
What is a second-degree burn?
A partial-thickness burn affecting the epidermis and dermis.
What is a third-degree burn?
A full-thickness burn damaging all layers of the skin.
What is a fourth-degree burn?
A burn that extends into muscles, tendons, and bones.
What is debridement?
The removal of dead tissue to promote wound healing.
What are hydrocolloid dressings used for?
Protecting and promoting healing of wounds.
What is the purpose of negative pressure wound therapy?
Uses suction to remove fluids and promote healing.
What are three common diagnostic tests for skin disorders?
Skin biopsy, Wood’s light exam, and patch testing.
What is a punch biopsy?
A biopsy that removes a small, round core of skin tissue.
What is a shave biopsy?
A biopsy that removes only the top layers of the skin.
What is an incisional biopsy?
A biopsy that removes a deeper section of skin.
What is a Wood’s light exam used for?
Detecting fungal and bacterial infections using UV light.
What is a patch test?
A test to diagnose allergic reactions by applying allergens to the skin.
What is a scratch test?
A test where small amounts of allergens are scratched into the skin.
What are open wet dressings used for?
Decreasing inflammation, cleansing wounds, and promoting drainage.
What is balneotherapy?
Therapeutic baths used to treat skin conditions.
What is a common treatment for contact dermatitis?
Topical corticosteroids and antihistamines.
What are the ABCDEs of melanoma?
Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter >6mm, Evolving.
What is actinic keratosis?
A precancerous skin lesion caused by sun damage.
What are the three main types of skin cancer?
Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma.
What is the most common type of skin cancer?
Basal cell carcinoma.
What is the most dangerous type of skin cancer?
Melanoma.
What are risk factors for melanoma?
UV exposure, fair skin, history of sunburns, family history.
What is cryotherapy used for?
Freezing warts, actinic keratosis, and small skin lesions.
What is Mohs surgery?
A surgical procedure to remove skin cancer layer by layer.
What is a keloid?
An overgrowth of scar tissue.
What is a lipoma?
A benign fatty tumor under the skin.
What is urticaria?
Hives caused by an allergic reaction.
What is cellulitis?
A bacterial skin infection that spreads in deeper tissues.
What are symptoms of cellulitis?
Redness, warmth, swelling, pain, fever.
What is impetigo?
A contagious bacterial infection causing honey-colored crusts.
What is folliculitis?
Inflammation of hair follicles, often caused by bacteria.
What is a furuncle?
A deep bacterial infection of a hair follicle (boil).
What is a carbuncle?
A cluster of infected hair follicles forming an abscess.
What is tinea pedis?
Athlete’s foot, a fungal infection of the feet.
What is tinea capitis?
Ringworm of the scalp.
What is tinea corporis?
Ringworm of the body.
What is tinea cruris?
Jock itch (ringworm of the groin).
What is onychomycosis?
Fungal infection of the nails.
What is herpes simplex virus (HSV-1)?
Causes oral cold sores.
What is herpes simplex virus (HSV-2)?
Causes genital herpes.
What is herpes zoster?
Shingles, a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus.
What are symptoms of shingles?
Painful rash along a nerve pathway.
What is postherpetic neuralgia?
Chronic nerve pain after shingles.
What is scabies?
A skin infestation caused by mites.
How does scabies spread?
Through close skin-to-skin contact.
What is the treatment for scabies?
Topical permethrin or oral ivermectin.
What is pediculosis?
Lice infestation (head, body, or pubic lice).
What is psoriasis?
A chronic autoimmune skin disorder with scaly plaques.
What are common triggers for psoriasis?
Stress, infections, cold weather.
How is psoriasis treated?
Topical steroids, vitamin D creams, UV therapy.
What is rosacea?
A chronic condition causing facial redness and visible blood vessels.
What are triggers for rosacea?
Spicy foods, alcohol, hot drinks, stress.
What is a pressure injury?
Localized skin damage due to prolonged pressure.
What are common areas for pressure injuries?
Sacrum, heels, elbows, back of the head.
How can pressure injuries be prevented?
Repositioning, good nutrition, moisture control.
What is the primary role of the skin in thermoregulation?
Regulates body temperature through sweating and blood vessel dilation/constriction.
What is insensible perspiration?
Water loss through the skin that occurs without noticeable sweating.
What role does the skin play in immune defense?
Acts as a physical barrier and contains immune cells like Langerhans cells.
What is xerosis?
Dry skin, commonly seen in elderly individuals.
How does aging affect sebaceous glands?
Decreased oil production, leading to drier skin.
What are common age-related skin changes?
Thinning skin, reduced elasticity, slower healing, increased bruising.
What is senile purpura?
Bruising due to fragile blood vessels in elderly individuals.
What is petechiae?
Tiny red or purple spots caused by capillary bleeding.
What is the function of Merkel cells?
Detect light touch and texture.
What is blanching?
Skin turning white when pressed, indicating normal circulation.
What does non-blanching erythema indicate?
Possible early-stage pressure injury.
What is the Braden Scale used for?
Assessing a patient’s risk for pressure injuries.
What is a common side effect of prolonged corticosteroid use?
Thinning of the skin and increased bruising.
What is a pustule?
A pus-filled skin lesion (e.g., acne, impetigo).
What is a vesicle?
A small, fluid-filled blister (e.g., chickenpox, herpes simplex).
What is a wheal?
A raised, itchy area of swelling (e.g., hives).
What is a fissure?
A deep crack in the skin, often seen in dry skin conditions.
What is a lichenified lesion?
Thickened, leathery skin from chronic scratching or irritation.
What is eschar?
Dead, blackened tissue that must be removed for wound healing.
What is granulation tissue?
New tissue that forms during wound healing; appears red and moist.
What is the purpose of a hydrogel dressing?
Provides moisture to dry wounds.
What is the purpose of a foam dressing?
Absorbs excess wound exudate.
What is the main advantage of transparent film dressings?
Allows wound observation while protecting it.
What is a skin graft?
Transplanting skin to cover a wound or burn.
What is an autograft?
A skin graft taken from the patient’s own body.
What is an allograft?
A skin graft taken from a human donor.
What is a xenograft?
A skin graft from an animal, usually a pig.
What is the primary symptom of fungal infections?
Itching, redness, and scaling.
What is the Koebner phenomenon?
Psoriasis lesions appearing at sites of skin trauma.
What is asteatosis?
Dry, scaly skin due to decreased oil production.
What is a major concern with full-thickness burns?
Fluid loss and infection risk.
What is the Rule of Nines used for?
Estimating total body surface area (TBSA) affected by burns.
What is the Parkland formula used for?
Calculating fluid resuscitation needs for burn patients.
What is toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)?
A severe, life-threatening skin reaction often caused by medications.
What is Stevens-Johnson syndrome?
A serious skin disorder with widespread skin detachment and mucosal involvement.
What is a common cause of Stevens-Johnson syndrome?
Drug reactions (e.g., antibiotics, anticonvulsants, NSAIDs).
What is a bullae?
A large, fluid-filled blister.
What is angioma?
A benign growth of blood vessels, often seen as red spots.
What are cherry angiomas?
Small, red, benign growths commonly seen in older adults.
What is a port-wine stain?
A vascular birthmark that does not fade over time.
What is a café-au-lait spot?
A light brown birthmark.
What is a nevus?
A mole or pigmented skin lesion.
What is vitiligo?
A loss of skin pigmentation due to melanocyte destruction.
What is lentigo?
An age-related dark spot, also known as a liver spot.
What is a dermatofibroma?
A firm, raised nodule on the skin, often from minor trauma.
What is the best way to prevent skin infections?
Good hygiene, avoiding skin trauma, and proper wound care.
