Soft Tissue Flashcards
What are the 3 layers of the body?
- Integumentary system and skin
- Muscular system and muscles
- Skeletal system and bones
What are the functions of the skin?
- Maintenance of body temperature
o Produces sweat from glands, in response to high body temperatures
o Will produce goose bumps in low heat to retain temperature - Receive stimuli
o Touch, temperature, pressure and pain - Excretion
o Water, salts and other organic compounds - Synthesis of Vitamin D
o Convert procuress to vitamin D3, follows pathway to kidney and liver to make the active form of vitamin D, kelsithrow - Immunity
o Actively fight infection, through Langham cells in the epidermis - Protection
What are the three layers of the skin?
- Epidermis – the outer most layer
- Dermis – middle layer, houses many structures of the integumentary system.
- Subcutaneous layer – made up of adipose tissue
How many layers can the Epidermis be split into?
5
What are the four principle cells of the Epidermis, and what are their functions?
- Keratinocytes – protection o Also found in, skin hair and nail cells - Melanocytes – pigment o Found at the base and synthesised by uv light and determines the colour of our skin - Langerhans cells – immunity o Migrate from bone marrow o Apart of immune response from antigens - Merkel cells – sensation o Meccano receptor
What is the role of blood vessels in the Dermis?
- Provide nutrients to the skin, helps regulate body tempreature
- For example, heat allows blood vessels to dilate, allowing large amounts to circulate near the skin surface were the built-up heat can be released.
o Opposite affect for the cold.
What nerve endings are found in the dermis?
- Nociceptors – sensation to pain
- Mechanoreceptors – touch and pressure
- Thermoreceptors – temperature
What is the significance of sweat glands to paramedicine?
- Aids in cooling the body, through temperature and sympathetic response.
What is the purpose of Hair follicles?
- Act as a sense organ
- Protection
- Regulation of body temperature
What does the subcutaneous layer contain?
- Fatty tissue
- Blood vessels
- Nerves
- Adipose tissue that firmly attached to underlying organs
What factors in Ambulance make understanding skin relevant?
- Iv insertions
- Burns
- Adhesive tapes
- Wounds and future scarring
- Elderly skin
- Skin turgor
What is wound or soft tissue trauma?
- When there is disruption to the integumentary system which results in vascular and inflammatory reactions.
What is the clotting Process?
- Vascular spasm
- Platelet plug formation
- Blood coagulation
What are the four stages of wound healing?
- Hemostasis phase
- Inflammatory phase
- Fibroblastic phase
- Maturation phase
What is a Hemostasis response?
- The process of the wound being closed by vasoconstriction and coagulation.
What is the inflammatory response in wound healing?
- The second stage of wound healing
- The injured blood vessels leak transiate, this cause localised swelling
- The inflammation controls bleeding and infection
- The fluid allows healing cells to move to the site of the wound.
- During this phase, damaged cells, bacteria and infections are pushed out of the area
- White blood cells create the area of redness, swelling and pain
- This process of wound healing is only problematic if the process is prolonged.
What is the fibroblastic phase?
- When the wound is rebuilt from collagen and extracellular matrix.
What are the characteristics of heathy granulation tissue site?
- Bright red
- Moist
- Shiny
- Does not bleed
What are the characteristics of unhealthy granulation tissue site?
- Dark red
- Dehydrated
- Dull
- Bleeds easily
What occurs during the Maturation or remodelling phase?
- Collagen is remodelled from type 3 to type 1 when the wound fully closes.
- Collagen is aligned along tension lines, unlike during the fibroblastic phase where it is thick and uneven.
- Allows collagen fibres to lie much closer together and cross linked.
o This reduces scar thickness and skin stronger - Cells that are no longer needed are removed.
What types of soft tissue injuries are there?
- Closed wounds o Contusions - Open wounds o Abrasion o Laceration o Puncture o Avulsion o Incision o Amputation
Define a contusion
- A blunt trauma that results in swelling, pain and ecchymosis (bleeding under the skin capillaries)
o The soft tissue beneath the skin is damaged but the skin on the surface is intact.
What is swelling beneath skin that is caused by blood called?
- Haematoma
What is the best way to treat a contusion?
- The RICE acronym o Rest o Ice o Compression o Elevation