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1st Year Med > Skin Structure/Function > Flashcards

Skin Structure/Function Flashcards

1
Q

What are the protective functions of the skin?

A

protects against:
mechanical impact
pressure
temperature variations
microbes
radiation/chemicals

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2
Q

how does the skin physiologically regulate the body?

A

body temperature - sweat/hair
peripheral circulation changes
fluid balance - sweat (minor)
vitamin D synthesis

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3
Q

how does the skin provide sensation?

A

through a nerve cell network that detects and relays changes in the environment (temperature, touch, pain)

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4
Q

describe the characteristics of the stratum corneum

A

large, flat, plate-like envelopes filled with cross-linked keratin
contains lipids
no nucleus/cytoplasm

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5
Q

describe the characteristics of the stratum granulosum

A

flattened cells, contains keratohyalin granules
beginning to lose nucleus and cytoplasm

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6
Q

describe the characteristics of the stratum spinosum

A

polyhedral keratinocytes
rich in desmosomes

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7
Q

describe the characteristics of the stratum basale

A

cuboidal/low columnar cells
mitotically active, constant regen of other layers
connected to BM by hemidesmosomes

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8
Q

what additional layer does thick skin have?

A

stratum lucidum

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9
Q

what features does the dermis contain?

A

CT - collagen type 1 (tensile strength), elastin (allows stretch) and ground substance
fibroblasts
blood supply

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10
Q

what are the 2 dermis layers called?

A

papillary (upper)
reticular (lower)

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11
Q

describe the function of the dermo-epidermal junction

A

attachment of epidermis and dermis
aligns epidermal cells
serves as reepithelialisation base in wound healing
barrier function (to/from epidermis)

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12
Q

what are the functions of the subcutis?

A

energy source
shock absorption
insulation

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13
Q

explain the structures in the papillary dermis allowing skin to perform its sensory function

A

merkel cells - attaches to PD and acts as mechanoreceptors
meissners corpuscles - mechanoreceptors responsible for touch in PD in hands/feet

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14
Q

what structure in the subcutis allows skin to perform its sensory function?

A

pactinian corpuscles - detects deep pressure/vibration

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15
Q

explain the function of eccrine glands in skin

A

temp control glands that excrete sweat
mostly found in palms, soles and axillae

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16
Q

what are apocrine glands and where are they found?

A

scent glands found in axillae and genitals

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17
Q

what is the function of sebaceous glands and where are they found?

A

formed from hair follicle
present everywhere except palms and soles
produces sebum

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18
Q

what is the definition of epithelium?

A

type of tissue that covers body surfaces, lines cavities or forms glands

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19
Q

what type of epithelium is the epidermis?

A

stratified squamous keratinised epithelium

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20
Q

where are keratinocytes located and what is their function?

A

location - keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
function - protection/barrier and vitamin D production

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21
Q

where are stem cells found in the epidermis and what is their function?

A

location - stratum basale
function - self renewal/repopulation of epidermal layers

22
Q

where are merkel cells located and what is their function?

A

located - basal layer of epidermis
function - sensation

23
Q

where are langerhans cells located and what is their function?

A

located - stratum spinosum and papillary dermis
function - dendritic cell: antigen presentation and phagocytosis

24
Q

where are melanocytes found and what is their function?

A

location - basal layer
function - radiaton protection

25
Q

what can chronic UV exposure in humans lead to?

A

loss of skin elasticity/fragility
abnormal pigmentation
blood vessel haemorrhage
wrinkles/premature ageing

26
Q

what is keratins location and function?

A

location - all epidermal layers
function - structural proteins, intermediate filaments

27
Q

what is profilaggrin’s location and function?

A

location - keratohyalin granules
function - converted to filaggrin which fuses keratin filaments into tight bundles

28
Q

what is involucrin’s location and function?

A

location - keratohyalin granules
function - forms cell envelope around stratum corneum cells and cross links to loricrin (also in keratohyalin granules)

29
Q

what are polysaccharides/glycoproteins/lipids location in the skin and what is their function?

A

location - lamellar granules
function - extrudes into intercellular space and forms the ‘cement’ holding stratum corneum cells together

30
Q

what is the function of dermal fibroblasts?

A

collagen/elastin/ECM synthesis
acts as growth factors

31
Q

what is the function of dermal lymphocytes?

A

immunosurveillance

32
Q

what is the function of dermal dendritic cells?

A

phagocytosis and antigen presentation

33
Q

what is the function of dermal mast cells?

A

produces inflammatory mediators (e.g histamine) during degranulation
produces chemotactic factors for eosinophils and neutrophils

34
Q

what main molecules are present in the dermis and what are their functions?

A

type 1 collagen - structural fibrous proteins
elastin - elasticity and recoil
proteoglycans/glycosaminoglycans - hydration

35
Q

what is the definition of a wound?

A

breakdown in the protective function of the skin

36
Q

desrcibe the cellular features of a wound

A

loss of epithelium continuity
possible loss of underlying CT

37
Q

what is damaged in an erosion wound?

A

only epidermis

38
Q

what is damaged in an ulceration wound?

A

structures deep to epidermis

39
Q

what is damaged in a partial thickness wound?

A

epidermis + some dermis

40
Q

what is damaged in a full thickness wound?

A

epidermis, dermis and deeper structures

41
Q

what are the 3 aspects of wound healing?

A

inflammatory, proliferative, remodelling

42
Q

explain the process of the inflammation/vascular phase in wound healing

A

platelets initiate haemostasis/blood clot and initiate the healing cascade
neutrophils/macrophages recruited to fight infection by phagocytosing dead tissue and microbes

43
Q

explain the process of reepithelialisation in proliferative wound healing

A

epithelial cells loosen cell-cell adhesions and migrate to wound site, cover the granulation tissue and meet in the middle
once one layer of keratinocytes covers the area, all keratinocytes proliferate

44
Q

what forms the granulation tissue in proliferative wound healing?

A

type 3 collagen

45
Q

what is neurovascularisation in proliferative wound healing?

A

proliferation and migration of endothelial cells

46
Q

what physiological changes occur in the remodelling phase of wound healing?

A

granulation tissue becomes mature scar tissue
collagen organised into thick bundles and cross-linked, forming a mature scar
type 3 collagen becomes type 1

47
Q

what growth factor is responsible for reepithelialisation?

A

epidermal growth factor (EGF)

48
Q

what is the function of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)?

A

matrix formation (increased fibroblast abundance/activity) and remodelling (protease production)

49
Q

what is the function of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)?

A

angiogenesis (endothelial cell proliferation/migration)

50
Q

what signalling molecules are responsible for inflammation in wounds?

A

interleukin 1 (Il-1), Il-6 and tumour necrosis factor a (TNFa)

51
Q

what local factors influence wound healing?

A

infection, foreign body, oxygenation, vascular supply

52
Q

what systemic factors influence wound healing?

A

age, disease, alcohol/smoking, immonucompromised conditions, obesity, medications

1st Year Med (52 decks)

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