SKIN Flashcards
List facts about the skin
Skin is largest body organ.
Serves as main protective barrier against damage to internal tissues.
Responsible for sensory perception, temperature regulation, production of Vitamin D and excretion of waste products.
Prevents harmful substances from entering the body and controls the loss of vital substances from the body
Damage to the skin can come from——
Damage can be from trauma, UV light, temperature, toxins and bacteria.
It is therefore important for the skin to remain intact to allow the body to perform these essential functions.
Skin is supported by a fat layer of tissue called?
Hypodermis
State the function of hypodermis
helps to act as a cushion to protect the body & important in insulation. Made up of largely fatty and connective tissue
List facts about the Epidermis
Epidermis – Made up of stratified squamous epithelium or hardened cells which play a role in the skin’s protective function. (Stratum corneum)
Melanocytes are found in the epidermis- they produce melanin which helps protect the body from UV light. Most skin cancers occur at this level
list facts about Dermis
Dermis- provide physical support and nutrients to the epidermis. This layer contains elastin , fibrillin and collagen which help give support and protection- all of which decrease with age.
Contains nerve endings, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair follicles and blood vessels.
How do you diagnose a patient with skin condition?
Diagnosis of skin conditions begins with taking a history – 80% of the decision!
This is followed by careful physical examination.
What questions would need to be asked to make a correct diagnosis?
History– conditions may be assoc. with skin disease such as diabetes, cancer, renal/liver disease and immunodeficiency, sun exposure,
PC, HPC, O/E, PLAN then PMH including surgical history, FH, SH, DH.
How long symptoms been present? Distinguish between acute and chronic
Do symptoms come and go?
Location - Do symptoms occur at same sites or difference sites?
Was symptoms causes by trauma/insect bite?
Any associated discharge or odour?
Travelled abroad recently?
In contact with and chemicals/irritants?
What has been used already?
Have they had it before?
Occupation?
a smallpatchof skin that is altered in colour but is not elevated is called?
Macule
a large area of colour change, with a smooth surface is called?
Patch
Describe a papule
elevated, solid,palpablelesion that is ≤ 1 cm in diameter. They may be solitary or multiple. Papules may be: Acuminate(pointed) Dome-shaped (rounded) Filiform(thread-like) Flat-topped Oval or round Pedunculated(with a stalk) Sessile(without a stalk) Umbilicated(with a central depression) Verrucous(warty)
Describe a nodule
elevated, solid, palpable lesion > 1 cm usually located primarily in the dermis and subcutis (deeper layers of the skin). The greatest portion of the lesion may be above or beneath the skin surface.
papule or nodule that contains fluid or semi-fluid material so is fluctuant is called?
A cyst
Define a plaque
Aplaqueis acircumscribed, palpable lesion more than 1 cm in diameter; mostplaquesare elevated. Plaques may result from acoalescenceof papules. Most plaques are elevated, but a plaque can also be a thickened area without being visibly raised above the skin surface. They may havewell-definedor ill-defined borders. The name ‘plaque’ is derived from the French word for a plate.Plaques may be:
Annular (ring-shaped)
Arcuate(half-moon)
Polygonal(varied non-geometric shape)
Polymorphic(varied shape)
Serpiginous(in the shape of a snake)
Poikilodermatous (variegated appearance, usually mixedpallor, telangiectasia andpigmentation)
Define a vesicle
asmall blister. It is a circumscribed lesion ≤ 1 cm in diameter that contains liquid (clear,serousorhaemorrhagic). They may be single or multiple. The adjective is “vesicular
