Skin (RA) Flashcards
What are the 4 classes of tissues in the body?
1 - Epithelia.
2 - Connective tissue.
3 - Muscles.
4 - Nervous system.
List 8 functions of skin.
1 - Protection against infections.
2 - Protection against abrasions.
3 - Protection against radiation.
4 - Preventing dehydration.
5 - Synthesis of nutrients e.g. vitamin D.
6 - Insulation / thermoregulation.
7 - Sensation.
8 - Psychosexual communication.
List 4 factors that affect skin colour.
1 - Ethnicity.
2 - Site of the body.
3 - Exposure to radiation.
4 - Drugs.
List 4 factors that affect hairiness.
1 - Site of the body.
2 - Gender.
3 - Age.
4 - Medical conditions, e.g. alopecia areata.
What are the types of skin?
1 - Hairy skin (most of the body).
2 - Glaborous skin (e.g. palms and soles of feet).
Define dermatome.
An area of skin supplied by sensory nerve fibres from a single spinal nerve (neural level).
Which spinal nerve root supplies the diaphragm?
C3-C5.
Which spinal nerve root supplies the shoulders?
C5-C6.
Which spinal nerve root supplies the wrists?
C8-T1.
Which spinal nerve root supplies the nipples?
T4.
Which spinal nerve root supplies the umbilicus?
T10.
Which spinal nerve root supplies the knees?
L3-L4.
Which spinal nerve root supplies the muscles necessary for knee flexion?
S1.
Which spinal nerve root supplies the great toes?
L5.
Which spinal nerve root supplies the feet?
S1-S2.
What is the difference between alopecia areata and alopecia universalis?
Universalis causes complete loss of hair on the scalp or body, whereas areata only affects small areas.
What are the 3 gross layers of skin?
1 - Epidermis.
2 - Dermis.
3 - Hypodermis.
Which type of epithelium is skin made of?
Keratinised stratified squamous epithelium.
What are the four layers of the epidermis?
1 - Stratum corneum (horny layer).
2 - Stratum granulosum (granular layer).
3 - Stratum spinosum (prickle cell layer).
4 - Stratum basale (basal layer).
In which layer of skin does most keratinocyte mitosis occur?
The stratum basale.
What happens to newly formed daughter keratinocytes shortly after they are formed?
They move upwards to (partially) form the stratum spinosum, where terminal differentiation begins.
What do keratinocytes synthesise and what is the function of their secretion(s)?
Keratin, which contributes to the strength of the epidermis.
How are blisters formed?
The epidermis separates from the dermis as a result of friction, allowing accumulation of fluid.
What is the stratum spinosum formed of?
- Terminally differentiating keratinocytes (at this stage are known as prickle cells).
- Prickle-like desmosomes (intercellular junctions).