Physiology

Question 1

What are the four layers of the epidermis from top to bottom?

Answer 1

Keratin layer

Granular layer

Prickle cell layer

Basal layer

Question 2

The developmental growth pattern of skin follows what?

Answer 2

Blaschko’s lines

Question 3

What are the four layers of the epidermis?

Answer 3

Question 4

95% of epidermal cells are?

Answer 4

Keratinocytes

Question 5

What do melanocytes do?

Answer 5

Convert tyrosine to melanin pigment

Question 6

What is the function of melanin caps?

Answer 6

Protect basal cells from UV light that can cause mutations

Question 7

In what condition is there a loss of melanocytes?

Answer 7

Vitiligo

Question 8

In what condition is there a failed production of eumelanin?

Answer 8

Albinism

Question 9

Langherhans cells are found in what epidermal layer?

Answer 9

Prickle cell layer

Question 10

What is the function of Langerhans cells?

Answer 10

Pick up antigen in skin and present them to lymph nodes

Question 11

The presence of what organelle suggests a Langerhans cell?

Answer 11

Birbeck granule (racket organelle)

Question 12

What do Merkel cells do?

Answer 12

Act as mechanoreceptors between keratinocytes and nerve fibres

Question 13

What are the three phases of growth of hair follicles?

Answer 13

Anagen (growing)

Catagen (involuting)

Telogen (resting)

Question 14

In what condition are hair cells attacked by the immune system?

Answer 14

Alopecia

Question 15

What are the three layers of the dermo-epidermal junction?

Answer 15

Lamina lucida

Lamina densa

Sub-lamina densa zone

Question 16

Give conditions where there are defects in the DEJ

Answer 16

Bullous pemphigoid (autoimmune)

Epidermolysis bullosa (congenital)

Question 17

Which receptors sense pressure and vibration in the skin?

Answer 17

Pressure - Pacinian corpsucles

Vibration - Meissners corpsucles

Question 18

What condition is caused by an overgrowth of nerve endings?

Answer 18

Neurofibromatosis

Question 19

What are the three main skin glands?

Answer 19

Sebaceous

Apocrine

Eccrine

Question 20

Answer 20

Question 21

Where are sebaceous glands most commonly found?

Answer 21

Head, neck and chest (think acne)

Question 22

What do sebaceous glands do?

Answer 22

Control moisture loss

Protect from fungal infection

Question 23

Apocrine/eccrine glands develop as part of hair follicles.

Answer 23

Apocrine

Question 24

Eccrine glands are the commonest sweat glands in the body. True/false?

Answer 24

True