Skin Flashcards
what is the largest organ in the body?
the skin, ~15-20% of body mass
4 main functions of skin
protection
sensation
thermoregulation
metabolic function
protection
from UV, mechanical, chemical, & thermal insult
Prevents dehydration; provides physical barrier to microorganisms
sensation
largest sense organ of body; contains receptors for touch, pressure, pain, & temperature
thermoregulation
nsulation via hair & SQ fat; heat loss facilitated by sweat glands & dermal capillary network
metabolic functions
energy stored in SQ fat(1’ as triglycerides); Vit D synthesized in skin via hv
Maintains homeostasis; excretory function (sweating); immune defense
3 lays of the skin
epidermis
dermis
hypodermis (=subcutis)
what does epidermis consist of
keratinized, stratified squamous epithelium
cells of the epidermis are called
keratinocytes
thickness of the epidermis
from <1 mm to >5 mm; dubbed “thin skin” or “thick skin,” respectively
“Thick skin” has thick, highly — layer
keratinized
thick skin is restricted to (2)
volar (soles) & palmar (palms) surfaces
thick skin lacks
hair (glabrous)
Most of body covered in —, with thin keratinized epidermis
“thin skin”
Epidermis lacks blood vessels—do not penetrate
basement membrane
Epidermis supplied & nourished by blood vessels in
underlying (subjacent) dermis
dermis is composed of
dense, irregular, collagenous connective tissue (Type I collagen), interspersed with elastic fibers
Progressive damage to elastic fibers results in
“aging”, loss of skin tone
dermis is highly vascular, contains many
sensory receptors
what are the two layers of the dermis?
papillary layer
deep reticular layer
Papillary layer relatively thin and interdigitates with
epidermis
Corrugations increases surface area for —, prevent (2)
attachment, prevent shear & mechanical abrasion
Epidermal ridges (rete ridges)
epidermal projections into dermis
Dermal ridges(dermal papillae)
dermal projections into epidermis
Large dermal ridges in thick skin called
fingerprints (= dermatoglyphs); unique to individual
dermal ridges form basis of study of
dermatoglyphics
reticular layer compared to papillary layer
Deep reticular layerof dermis thicker & less cell than papillary layer
dermis contains (3)
hair follicles, sweat & sebaceous glands
dermis interdigitates with underlying
hypodermis(= subcutis)
Thick collagen bundles & elastin fibers in reticular layer form lines of tension,
Langer’s lines
Skin incisions — to Langer’s lines heal with less scarring
parallel
hypodermis is located
below dermis
hypodermis
layer of loose, irregular connective tissue & adipose tissue (= subcutis= superficial fascia= panniculus adiposus)
vascular plexus consist of (3)
Superficial subpapillary plexus, deep cutaneous plexus, & deeper subcutaneous plexus
Subpapillary plexus located at junction of
papillary & reticular layers
Cutaneous plexus located at junction of
reticular layer & hypodermis
Subcutaneous plexus located deep within
hypodermis
largest of the three layers of the vascular plexi
subcutaneous plexus
vascular plexi is used in — in (2)
Used in thermoregulation—in fingertips & ears
vascular plexus is associated with
AV shunts containing glomus bodies