Normal Healing 1 Flashcards
What is the Stratum Corneum? What is its pH? Acidotic or Alkolotic? What does the pH create? Function? when the pH shifts more basic, what does that do to the acid barrier? What can ease skin damage?
Outer most layer of the epidermis.
pH is between 4-6.5 Slightly acidic.
Creates an acid mantle–enhances the skin barrier.
The skin becomes prone to secondary bacterial and fungal infection.
Hydration and lubrication from petroleum or lanolin based moisturizers.
How many times/day of hand washing will alter pH?
How long will multiple washings effect pH in hands?
What else can change the pH or damage the acid mantle?6
Hand washing 3x's/day alters mantle for hrs. Multiple washings: changes last for 14 hours. Perspiration Urine Stool Systemic disease Wound dressing Diapers
What is melanin?
pigmentation to create skin color.
What is the basement membrane?
Connects the epidermis and the dermis. (blood supply is in the dermis)
Name the 5 dermal appendages?
Where do they originate and where do they “migrate”?
hair follicles sebaceous glands sweat glands fingernails toenails originate in the epidermis and migrate to dermis.
When there is a wound, what do hair follicles, sebaceous and sweat glands contribute to the fight?
epithelial cells to rapidly close the wound.
What is the main function of sebaceous glands?
Where are they most numerous?
lubrication of skin.
maintains soft and flexible skin.
Most numerous on the face, palms of hands, soles of feet.
What is the main function of sweat glands?
What do sweat glands, dermal blood vessels, and small muscles in the skin work to do together?
Control skin pH.
Control temp surface on body.
What is the function of nerve endings in the skin?
What is the risk if their function is lost? What is this condition called?
responsible for pain, touch, heat and cold.
Peripheral neuropathy…increased risk for skin breakdown or injury.
The superficial (papillary) dermis…
Collagen, elastin, and ground substance create what?
What is its purpose?
What do Fibroblasts create?
What other skin organs are present? 5
What is one of the major functions of these “organs”?
Extracellular matrix.
It’s scaffolding for collagen–(Laid down in an orderly fashion)
Firbroblasts produce collagen.
1. Blood vessels
2. lymphatic vessels
3. small muscles (erector pillae [goosebumps])
4. Nerve endings
5. Epithelial cells
Thermoregulation–skin vasodilates, increased blood flow releases heat.
Deep (reticular) dermis…
This layer is located over what?
Describe its vascularization. What is its function?
What produces collagen in this layer?
What is the name of a wound that occurs at this layer?
How does this type of wound heal?
Subcutaneous fat. Very vascular, large network of blood vessels and collagen fibers...tensile strength. Fibroblasts. Partial thickness wound Regeneration.
What are the purposes of blood vessels in the superficial dermis?
nourishes the epidermis.
Regulates body temperature.
Regulates skin color.
As the skin ages, certain changes occur…
What happens to the Epidermis?
Why does stratum corneum thicken?
Why does skin become more red?
What is the implication of decreased Langerhans cells and Melanocytes?
Epidermis thins and becomes more transparent.
Thickens as a body reaction to protect from sunlight.
Increased visibility of vascular structures.
The decrease of Langerhans cells and melanocytes signifies a diminished cutaneous immune function.
As the skin ages, certain changes occur…
What happens to Keratinocytes?
What are the implcations of the Atrophy or Flattening of the basement membrane?
The body doesn’t produce as many so the old ones stay alive too long and become impotent. The slow down epithelialization.
It reduces the ability of the dermis and epidermis to adhere to each other…this causes a decrease in epidermal thickness. There develops an inability to transfer heat to deeper tissues. Thus, heat accumulates at the skin’s surface…increased risk for hyperthermia, tears from shear stress, and blisters.
As the skin ages, what happens to the dermis?
Damage to elastic and collagen fibers.
Increasing skin stiffness
Papillary capillary loop decrease.
Diminished skin blood flow and risk of hyperthermia.
Sympathetic nervous system impairment.
Loss of endothelial vascular activitiy.
- Disorganization of fibers which decreases tensile strength.
- Loss of flexibility
- the number of capillary loops decreases and distance between loops increase. These groups will disappear eventually… use caution with modalities.
- sympathetic nervous system impairment impairs thermoregulatory control. Ability for vasodilation decreases causing increased risk for hyperthermic injuries… Cannot dissipate heat properly.
- endothelial cells in blood vessels are affected which causes A reduction in the production of nitric oxide and other vasodilators… causes problems with heat dissipation.
