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FLS histology > Skin > Flashcards

Skin Flashcards

1
Q

What are the functions of skin?

A

Physical protection - pathogens, UV light, chemical stress, waterproof - top layer has keratin
Thermoregulation- arterio-venous shunts provides a superficial blood supply.
Sensation - receptors for touch, pressure, pain, temperature

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2
Q

What are the more chemical functions of skin?

A

Metabolic functions - subcutaneous fat, adipose tissue produces vitamin D, triglyceride storage.
Indicator of general health

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3
Q

What are the 3 layers of skin?

A

Epidermis - brown/purple with many cells
Dermis - pale pink, many collagen fibres
Hypodermis - yellow, adipose tissue and sweat glands with ducts.

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4
Q

What is the classification of epidermis?

A

Keratinised stratified squamous epithelium.
Mostly filled with keratinocytes
Squamous because the squamous layer is at the top.

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5
Q

What is the classification of dermis?

A

Mainly dense irregular connective tissue.
Some loose connective tissue underlying epidermis.

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6
Q

What is the classification of hypodermis?

A

Connecting to underlying tissues
Mainly adipose tissue.

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7
Q

What are the layers of the epidermis?

A

Basal layer
Stratum spinosum
Stratum granulosum
Stratum lucidum
Stratum corneum

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8
Q

What is the basal layer?

A

Cuboidal cells.
At the bottom of the epidermis, attaches to basement membrane via hemidesmosomes.
Mitosis occurs to replenish above layers.
Melanocytes present.

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9
Q

What is the stratum spinosum?

A

Connected by desmosomes.
Gives prickly apperance on dehydration.
Produces cytokeratin - which aggregate as tonofibrils, found attached to desmosomes.

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10
Q

What does the epidermis look like?

A

see image

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11
Q

What is the stratum granulosum?

A

Basophilic granules - stains strongly with haemotoxylin - very dark purple.
Granules have lots of keratohyalin.
Become squamous cells.

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12
Q

How does keratin mature in the epidermis?

A

Some cytokeratin in basal layer.
Cytokeratin is arranged into tonofibrils in stratum spinosum.
Keratohyaline granules in stratum granulosum.
Mature keratin in stratum corneum - combination of keratohyaline and cytokeratin.

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13
Q

What does keratin do in the stratum corneum?

A

Mature keratin is overproduced and epidermal cells begin to die.
All the organelles are kicked out - no nuclei present, become squames and flake off.
The epidermal cells are constantly regenerating, with new cells being created by mitosis in the stratum basale and moving up the epidermis.

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14
Q

What is the stratum lucidum?

A

The layer between the stratum granulosum and corneum.
Only present in thick skin - palms of hands, fingers, soles of feet.
Very thick layer of keratin, no hairs.

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15
Q

What are melanocytes?

A

Found in the basal layer.
Long cellular processes extend into the stratum spinosum for UV protection.
Melanin creates a barrier around nucleus to protect from UV.

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16
Q

What do melanocytes look like?

A

see image

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17
Q

What are Merkel cells?

A

In the stratum basale, associated with free nerve ending.
For sensory processes - light touch.

18
Q

What are Langerhan’s cells?

A

Immune cells found in all epidermal layers and the dermis.
Antigen presenting cell, similar to macrophages but only found in skin.

19
Q

What is the papillary dermis?

A

Found directly underneath epidermis, a small layer.
Dermal papillae are ridges and extensions of dermis into the epidermis.
Loose connective tissue.

20
Q

What is the reticular dermis?

A

Reticular dermis is a much larger layer below the papillary dermis.
It is dense irregular connective tissue - has more collagen.
Elastin is present throughout the dermis to provide stretch.

21
Q

What does the papillary layer of dermis look like?

A

see image

22
Q

What does dermis look like?

A

see image

23
Q

What is the function of the papillary dermis layer?

A

Allows space for vasculature and capillaries to be present directly under the epidermis.
Also allows for diffusion through ground substance.

24
Q

How does the dermis bring about thermoregulation?

A

The subpapillary plexus and cutaneous plexus have shunting vessels between them.
Shunting vessels can be open or closed.
When closed, blood flow to the epidermis is reduced, in extreme temperatures - hypothermia.
This is controlled by the autonomic nervous system.

25
Q

What receptors are found in the dermis?

A

Encapsulated: Meissner’s corpuscle - in papillary layer.
Pacinian corpuscle - dermis and hypodermis.
Ruffini’s corpuscles.
Merkel’s discs are associated with the Merkel’s cells - unencapsulated.

26
Q

What does Meissner’s corpuscle look like?

A

see image

27
Q

What does the Pacinian corpuscle look like?

A

see image

28
Q

What is hair?

A

A skin appendage found on thin skin.
Hair develops from hair follicles - invaginations of the epidermis.
Hair is made from keratin, and has a sebaceous gland attached to secrete oily sebum.

29
Q

What does hair look like histologically?

A

see image

30
Q

What is arrector pili muscle?

A

Makes hair stand on end when innervated by the sympathetic nervous system.

31
Q

What are the differences between sweat glands and sebaceous glands?

A

Sebaceous gland is large, attached to hair follicles, found in dermis.
Sweat glands are found in the superficial hypodermis (subcutis), and secretes watery fluid.
Both are epithelial based tissues.

32
Q

What are the types of sweat glands?

A

Eccrine
Apocrine

33
Q

What are eccrine glands?

A

Function in heat loss.
Less viscous
Found everywhere.

34
Q

What are apocrine sweat glands?

A

Open into hair follicle.
Regulated by hormones.
More viscous.
Location limited to genitals.

35
Q

What are disorders of the epidermis?

A

Psoriasis - abnormal epidermal growth - flaky skin.
Malignant melanoma - growth of melanocytes.
Vitiligo - autoimmune destruction of melanocytes.
Dermatitis - inflammation of skin.
Contact dermatitis - mediated by Langerhan cells.

36
Q

What are burns?

A

Damage to skin from heat, electricity, chemicals or radiation.

37
Q

What are full thickness burns?

A

Affects the whole of the skin - to subcutaneous tissues.
Skin is dry and white with no blisters.
Painless

38
Q

What are partial thickness burns?

A

Superficial dermal - epidermis and upper dermis affected.
Skin is pale pink and painful with blistering.
Deep dermal - all dermis is affected, blisters, can be painful or painless.

39
Q

What are superficial burns?

A

Affects only the epidermis.
Skin is red and painful but not blistered.

40
Q

Why are some burns painless?

A

Pain receptors are found in the dermis.
Damage to pain receptors in the dermis means it is painless.

41
Q

What are autografts?

A

Uses tissue from their own body - no rejection but longer recovery time.

42
Q

What are allografts?

A

Uses tissue from another person’s body - plenty of donor tissue available, but more rejection, disease transmission, higher cost.

FLS histology (6 decks)

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