Structure and Function Flashcards
What epithelium forms the epidermis?
Stratified squamous epithelium
What is the dermis?
A layer of connective tissue beneath the epidermis
Which embryological layer forms the epidermis?
Ectoderm
Which embryological layer forms the dermis?
Mesoderm
Foetal skin development:
- 4 weeks
- 16 weeks
- 26 weeks
4 weeks - periderm, basal layer, dermis
16 weeks - keratin layer, granular layer, prickle cell layer, basal layer, dermis
26 weeks - epidermis
Blaschko’s lines
Developmental growth pattern of the skin. Anything wrong with the skin at birth will follow these lines. If something runs along these lines it is a genetic error
What does the skin consist of?
Epidermis, appendages, dermo-epidermal junction, dermis, sub-cutis
Appendages
Nails, hair, glands, mucosae
What forms a scar?
The appendages no longer being present
Function of sebaceous gland
Secrete grease
Function of erector pili muscle
Causes hairs to erect
Pilosebaceous unit
Consists of the hair shaft, the hair follicle, the sebaceous gland and the erector pili muscle
Which cell makes up 95% of the epidermis?
Keratinocytes - contain structural keratins
Layers of the epidermis
Keratin layer, granular layer, prickle cell layer, basal layer
Cells of the epidermis and where they are found
Keratinocytes - keratin layer
Melanocytes - basal and suprabasal layers
Langerhans cells - suprabasal layer
Merkel cells - basal layer
Things that control the regulation of epidermal turnover
Growth factors, cell death, hormones
Conditions where there is loss of control in regulation of epidermal turnover
Skin cancer and psoriasis
How long does it take from keratinocytes to travel from the bottom to the top of the epidermis?
28 days
How many cells thick is the basal layer?
One
What shape are the cells in the basal layer?
Small cuboidal cells
What is there lots of in the basal layer?
Intermediate filaments (keratin)
The basal layer is highly metabolically active - true or false?
True
Describe the shape of cells in the prickle layer
Larger polyhedral cells
What are there lots of in the prickle cell layer?
Desmosomes
What are desmosomes?
Cell to cell contacts which allow both adhesion (to impart stability) and flexibility (so cells can move upwards)
How many layers of cells are there in the granular layer?
2-3 layers of flatter cells
What does the granular layer contain?
Large keratohyalin granules, odland bodies and a high lipid content
What do keratohyalin granules contain?
Structural fillagrin and involucrin proteins
Where is the origin of the cornified envelope?
Granular layer
Describe cell nuclei in the granular layer
Cell nuclei are lost
Where are corneocytes found?
Keratin layer
What are corneocytes?
Terminally differentiated keratinocytes and compose most if not all of the stratum corneum. They are ‘dead’ cells
Which layer, other than the granular layer, is part of the cornified envelope?
Keratin layer
Function of the keratin layer
Provides a waterproof barrier to the skin and releases lamellar granules
Example of disease affecting keratinocytes
Human papilloma virus of keratinocyte causes warts
Oral mucosa
Masticatory (keratinised to deal with friction/pressure) Lining mucosa (non-keratinised) Specialised mucosa (tongue papillae - taste)
Ocular mucosa
Lacrimal glands, eyelashes, sebaceous glands
When are melanocytes formed in human development?
Within the first 3 months of development
Where are melanocytes formed in human development?
Migrate from neural crest to epidermis
In what layer of skin are melanocytes formed?
Basal layer and above
What are melanocytes?
Pigment producing dendritic cells
Which organelles do melanocytes contain?
Melanosomes
Function of melanosomes
Convert tyrosine to melanin pigment
Colour of eumelanin
Brown or black
Colour of phaeomelanin
Red, yellow
What drives the conversion of tyrosine to melanin pigment?
The hormone alpha MSH - part of ACTH
Function of melanin
Absorbs light. It is a natural density filter
What are full melanosomes (melanin granules) transferred from the adjacent keratinocytes via?
Dendrites
Why do melanosomes form a cap over the nucleus?
To protect stem cells from DNA mutations
Briefly describe the following conditions:
- Vitiligo
- Albinism
- Nelson’s syndrome
- Melanoma
Vitiligo - autoimmune disease disease with loss of melanocytes
Albinism - genetic partial loss of pigment production
Nelson’s syndrome - melanin stimulation hormone is produced in excess by the pituitary
Melanoma - tumour of the melanocyte cell line
What type of cells are Langerhan’s cells?
Dendritic cells
Where do Langerhan’s cells originate?
Mesenchymal origin - bone marrow
Where are Langerhan’s cells found?
Prickle cell level in the epidermis, dermis and lymph nodes
Describe Langerhan’s cells in the immune system
They are antigen presenting cells. They pick up the antigen in skin and circulate to lymph nodes via lymphatic system