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Anatomy & Physiology > Skin > Flashcards

Skin Flashcards

1
Q

What are the components of the integumentary system ?

A
  • skin, hair, nails, some nerves and glands
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2
Q

What are the functions of the integumentary system ?

A
  • shield/barrier to external environment
  • regulates body temp
  • touch/sensitivity
  • retention of body fluids
  • protects against disease & infection
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3
Q

What are Merkel cells ?

A
  • specialist cells found in digits,lips, oral cavity & hair follicles
  • stimulated when keratinocytes are deformed to secrete chemicals that generate an action potential in local neurons
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4
Q

Describe the general properties of the skin

A
  • largest organ in the body
  • forms a continuous layer with the mucous membranes which covers all the body’s surfaces
  • contains specialised cells
  • 3 layered = epidermis, dermis & subcutaneous adipose layer
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5
Q

Describe the epidermis

A
  • superficial layer of the skin
  • made of epithelial cells
  • has no vascular system
    -contains specialised epithelial cells which are organised in a stratified structure
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6
Q

Describe the stratified structure of the epidermis

A
  • cornified cell layer
  • granular layer
  • squamous epithelial tissue
  • basal layer
  • basement membrane
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7
Q

Describe the Cornified Cell layer of the epidermis

A
  • stratum corneum
  • keratinocytes terminal differentiate to corneocytes and provide a barrier to the external environment
  • stops excessive water loss
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8
Q

Describe Corneocytes

A
  • filled with keratin
  • no nucleus
  • keratinised layer stops water loss from inside & stops penetration of water from outside
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9
Q

Describe the granular cell layer of the epidermis

A
  • 1-3 cells thick
  • stratum granulosum
  • keratinocytes in this layer contain lots of keratohyline granules in cytoplasm –> key players in keratinisation
  • eventual terminal differentiation removes organelles from cells
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10
Q

Describe the squamous cell layer

A
  • stratum spinosum
  • 5-10 cells thick
  • keratinocytes take on a flattened shape - appear squamous and become flatter as they travel to the top layer
  • contain lamellar granules which contain hydrolytic enzymes
  • keratin fibres formed around the nuclei
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11
Q

Describe the basal cell layer of the epidermis

A
  • stratum basale
  • where keratinocytes begin their journey & proliferate
  • keratinocytes appear column shaped & attached to basement membrane
  • long elongated uncle & support squamous cells
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12
Q

What are Melanocytes

A
  • pigment synthesising cells
  • found in the epidermis, iris & hair
  • responsible for melanin production & its transportation to keratinocytes via melanosome
  • 1 melanocyte communicates with 30/40 keratinocytes in an epidermal melanin unit
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13
Q

Describe how melanocytes and keratinocytes interact to defend against UV damage

A
  • pigment globules are released from the melanocyte dendrites into the extracellular space
  • the globules are captured by microvilli of the keratinocytes
  • they’re transported via a protease activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) dependent mechanism
  • the membrane of pigment globule is degraded
  • single melanosomes are released into a keratinocyte cytosol & move into the perinuclear space
  • UV protection is offered to cells nucleus by the melanosome
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14
Q

Describe Langerhans cells

A
  • immune cells involved in T cell responses
  • found in all layers of the epidermis - most abundant in the squamous cell layer
  • during infection Langerhans cells act as 1st responders to pathogens
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15
Q

Describe the Dermis

A
  • contains extracellular matrix & collagen
  • fibroblasts produce collagen & other proteins which give skin its flexibility & structure
  • thickest layer
  • contains fibrous, filamentous & amorphous connective tissue
  • made of 2 layers = papillary & reticular layers
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16
Q

Describe the Papillary Dermis

A
  • uppermost layer of the dermis
  • joined to the basal membrane of the epidermis
  • contains loosely arranged collagen fibres
  • papillae (finger-like projections) that extend towards the epidermis contain capillaries & Meissners Corpuslcles
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16
Q

Describe the reticular dermis

A
  • lower layer of dermis
  • consists of dense connective tissue - densely packed collagen & elastic fibres
  • contains roots of hair, sebaceous glands & sweat glands
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16
Q

Describe Dermal Fibroblasts

A
  • most abundant cell in the dermis
  • responsible for the production of key matrix proteins - fibrillin, elastin & collagen
  • quantity & quality declines in ageing skin
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16
Q
A
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16
Q

Describe Subcutaneous Adipose tissue

A
  • helps with thermoregulation
  • stores energy for use when necessary
  • contains adipocytes
  • controls some hormones
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16
Q

What are the 2 types of aged skin?

A
  • chronically aged skin
  • photo aged skin
16
Q

Describe Chronically Aged Skin

A

Thin, dry & finely wrinkled

16
Q

Describe Photoaged Skin

A

leathery,
lax ,
deep wrinkles
uneven pigmentation
Telangiectasia
Lentigines

16
Q

What is telangiectasia ?

A

broken looking visible blood visible

16
Q

What is lentigines ?

A

age spots

16
Q

Describe the reduced function in ageing skin

A
  • slower wound healing response
  • loss of elasticity
  • reduced collagen I
  • reduced overall collagen
  • reduction of epidermal hyaluronic acid
16
Q

What are some theories of skin ageing ?

A
  • oxidative stress
  • UV radiation
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction
  • cellular senescence
16
Q

How do physical sunscreen work?

A
  • UVA & UVB are blocked from entering skin by an impenetrable layer of minerals on the skins surface
  • active ingredient is titanium dioxide or zinc oxide
16
Q

How does chemical suncream work ?

A
  • usual mode of action is for active ingredients to convert UV rays into heat
  • active ingredients = avobenzone, octinoxate & oxybenzone
16
Q

Describe Trans Epidermal Water Loss

A
  • when water passes from the dermis through to the epidermis & evaporated from the surface of the skin
  • causes dry skin
16
Q

What are the 3 types moisturiser ?

A
  • occlusives
  • emollients
  • humectants
16
Q

Describe Occlusives

A
  • acts as barrier ontop of stratum corneum
  • stops water molecules escaping
  • long acting typically
  • strengthens lipid framework of stratum corneum
16
Q

Describe Emollients

A
  • Penetrates the stratum corneum (cornified cell layer)
  • emollient particles fill up the spaces between corneocytes
16
Q

Describe Humectants

A
  • Enters the cornified cell layer & attracts moisture from the environment & retains it inside the layer
16
Q

What are the 4 stages of wound healing?

A
  1. Hemostasis
  2. Inflammatory
  3. Proliferation
  4. Remodelling
16
Q

Describe Hemostasis

A

Blood clot forms & bleeding is halted

16
Q

Describe the inflammatory stage of wound healing

A
  • infiltration by macrophages/Langerhans cells to the wound site to fight any bacteria
  • fibroblasts produce extracellular matrix
16
Q

Describe the proliferation stage of the wound healing process

A
  • fibroblasts proliferate & epithelial cells start to cover the wound
16
Q

Describe the Remodelling of the wound healing process

A

the cell of the dermis & epidermis re-organise to reduce scarring

16
Q

Describe 1st Degree Burns

A
  • only affects the epidermis
  • wound is red & dry with no blisters
  • typically superficial
16
Q

Describe 2nd Degree burns

A
  • affects the epidermis & some of the dermis
  • blisters & redness
  • may be swollen & painful (painful thickness)
16
Q

Describe 3rd Degree burns

A
  • destroys the epidermis & dermis
  • may go to the underlying subcutaneous tissue
  • burn site may look white, charred or blackened
16
Q

Describe 4th Degree Burns

A
  • burn involves all 3 layers of the skin
  • can also include muscle & bone
  • no pain is felt due to nerve damage
16
Q

Describe Basal Cell Carcinoma

A
  • 80% of cancer is BBC
  • Effects basal epithelial cells at the base of epidermis
  • mostly found on sun exposed areas
  • rarely progresses to metastasize
17
Q

Describe Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A
  • 2nd most common type of skin cancer
  • involves the squamous cell layer
  • mostly found in sun exposed areas
  • more invasive than BCC
18
Q

Describe Melanoma

A
  • effects pigment cells = melanocytes
  • more aggressive than BCC & SCC
  • can effects parts of the body not exposed to the sun
  • can metastasize to brain, liver & lungs
19
Q

Describe Merkel Cell Carcinoma

A
  • relatively rare but aggressive
  • more common in sun exposed areas
  • more likely to occur in people over 50’s & compromised immune systems
  • can metastasize
20
Q

Describe Psoriasis

A
  • immune mediated condition that results in the build-up of skin cells on the surface of the skin & the addition of inflammatory response
21
Q

What are some examples of Psoriasis ?

A
  • scalp psoriasis
  • nail psoriasis
  • plaque psoriasis
22
Q

Describe Eczema

A
  • altered barrier function
  • immune cell responses & hypersensitivity
  • this reduces in increased water loss, pH alteration, skin dehydration, itching, scratching & risk of infection/ inflamed skin

Anatomy & Physiology (15 decks)

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