Organ Systems - 1) Skin Flashcards
What is the general term used to describe the skin and it’s structures?
INTEGUMENT
What does INTEGUMENT include?
Skin, Hair, Nails, glands etc
Name 5 of the general roles of the INTEGUMENT
Protection Temperature regulation Sensory perception Metabolism Waste disposal
What are the 3 main ways the skin protects the body?
1) a physical barrier; Keratin makes it water resistant
2) Chemical Barrier; acidic and bacterial secretions retard bacteria, Melanin sheilds from UV
3) Biological barrier `
What is normal body temreature?
37*C
How does the integument regulate body temperature?
- Dermal blood vessels dilate and sweat glands secrete
- Involuntary muscle contraction
What is the ‘metabolic function’ of skin?
sunlight acts on cholesterol in dermal bloodvessels and converts them into vitamin D
Typically how thick is skin?
1-2mm
What are the outer and inner parts of skin?
Outer - Epidermis
Inner - Dermis
What is the function of the Hypodermis
- Anchors skin to underlying tissue
- Fat stores for insulation
What is the epidermis mainly made of?
keratinised stratified epithelium.
Where would you find non-keratinized skin and what are the key diffrences?
In the GI system
Surface layers are still alive
Because it has no keratin it must be kept from drying out. This is achieved with a variety of secretions such as; mucus, saliva, tears, ear wax etc.
What cell is responsible for skin pigmentation?
Melanocytes
What skin cells provides skin sensations?
Merkel cells
What are the immunce cells in the skin called?
Langerhans’ cells
