Skin - Structure And Function Flashcards
What is the integumentary system of the body?
Skin, Hair and Nails
List some features of the integumentary system
- Largest organ of the body
- Heaviest organ of the body: 15% of adult body weight
- Much GP time
What are the 3 layers of the skin?
- Epidermis
- Dermis
- Hypodermis
Hair, Skin glands, Nails and sensory receptors
What are the functions of the skin?
- Barrier protection: Dehydration, Infection, Injury, Solar radiation
- Thermoregulation
- Sensation
- Repair
- Vitamin D production
Describe the Epidermis layer of the skin
- Most superficial
- Gives skin it’s colour
- Protection from pathogens and environment
- Vitamin D production
- Made up of multiple layers of differentiating keratinocytes
List the 4 main layers of the Epidermis
- Stratum Corneum
- Stratum Granulosum
- Stratum Spinosum
- Stratum Basale
Describe the Stratum Basale: Basal Layer
- First single layer contains stem cells arranged to the dermis
- Stem cells constantly proliferate
- Are dynamic: Daughter cells constantly move “up” (distally) through the epidermis, differentiating as they go
- Until they are shed from the outer surface.
- This takes 20-50 days
Describe the Stratum spinosum: Spiny layer
- Cells (Keratinocytes) have many desmosomes (junctions) visible as spines between the cells
- Strong bonds holding the epidermis together
Describe the Stratum Granulosum: Granular layer
- 1-4 layers of cells containing granules of kreatohyalin: a precursor of the protein keratin
- Also contain lamellar bodies containing lipids (seen by TEM)
- Cells are differentiating to form the outermost layer
Describe the Stratum Corneum: Cornified layer
- The outer protective layer of the epidermis
- Cells are keratinised (cornified), Cytoplasm full of horny keratin (keratohyalin granules)
- Thus tough and resistant to injury
- Cells are flattened and lost their nuclei
- Nonpolar lipids (waterproof) are between the cells from lamellar bodies
What is Keratin also the main components of?
Horns, Hair, Nails, Claws and hoofs
List some other epidermal cell types
- Melanocytes (pigment)
- Langerhans cells (defence)
- Merkal cells (sensation)
How are melanocytes viewed under a microscope?
Via a special DOPA stain for melanin which shows their denitrification form
What are Melanocytes?
- They synthesise melanosomes
- Transfers them to basal keratinocytes through long dendrites
How is melanin arranged in the pigment?
- Keratinocytes arrange melanin pigment in a cap distal to the nucleus (sunny side)
- Especially in the Basal layer (Stem cells)
- UV protection: black ppl only have about 10% as many skin cancers as white ppl with the same lifestyle
What are Merkal cells?
- Some pale cells in the basal layer are Merkal cells
- These are touch sensors
- Hard to tell the difference with H&E alone which is white skin, pale cells in or protruding from basal layer
Describe the Langerhans cells
- Function: Immune system, Seeks and deals with invading microbes
- Antigen presenting cells (like macrophages)
- They are dendritic cells, forming a network
Describe the Vitamin D production in the skin
- Vitamin D3 is made in the epidermis layer
- Mostly in the basal cells but also in the Stratum spinosum
- Requires UV light
- Requires more UV light in dark skin (melanin barrier)
- Converted to active form in liver in the liver and kidney
- Commonly deficient in the UK
Describe the dermis layer of the skin
- Found below the epidermis
- Has 2 layers
- Tensile strength & elastic
- Contains blood vessels, skins glands & sensory receptors
Describe what the dermis layer is made from
- Made up of layers of connective tissue
- Characterised by interconnected mesh of elastin and collagen fibres
- produced by dermal fibroblasts
- Fibroblasts are the principal cell of the dermis
What are the two layers of the dermis?
- Thin papillary layer
- Deeper reticular layer
Briefly describe the dermis
- Dense irregular connective tissues
- Dense = full of collagen fibres
- Irregular = Fibres run in all directions (not parallel)
What are the functions of the dermis?
- Collagen provides tensile strength hence protection against abrasion and impact
- Also contains elastin providing elasticity
- Carries blood and nerve supply for epidermis
- Rich in blood vessels, sensory receptors and skin glands