Structure And Function Of Skin Flashcards
What is integument?
Skin, hair and nails collectively
What are the functions of the skin?
Protection, thermoregulation, sensation, repair and vitamin D production
What are the 3 names of the layers of skin?
Epidermis, dermis and hypodermis
What are the functions of the epidermis?
Gives skin its colour, protects the body from pathogens and the environment and vitamin D production
What are the functions of the dermis?
Tensile strength and elasticity - also contains blood vessels, skin glands and sensory receptors
What are the functions of the hypodermis?
Insulate deeper tissue and anchors skin to the muscle
What is the epidermis made up of?
Multiple layers of different keratinocytes
What are the layers of the epidermis?
Basal layer, spiny layer, granular layer, cornified layer and stratum lucidum
What is the basal layer of the epidermis made up of?
Stem cells
What happens in the basal layer of the epidermis?
Daughter cells move up, differentiating as they go until they are shed from the outer surface
What happens in the spiny layer of the epidermis?
Desmosomes between keratinocytes
What does the granular layer of the epidermis contain?
Keratohyaline granules and lamellar bodies containing lipids
What is the function of the cornified layer of the epidermis?
Outer protective layer
What is special about the cornified layer of the epidermis?
Cells are keratinised, flattened, have lost the nucleus and non-polar lipids are between the cells
What do melanocytes look like?
Neurons (ish)
What is the function of melanocytes?
Synthesise melanosomes and transfers them to basal keratinocytes
What is the function of langerhans cells?
Antigen presenting cell - seeks and deals with invading microbes
What do langerhans cells look like?
Pale cells in non-basal epidermal layers
What is the function of merkel cells?
Sensation
How is melanin arranged in keratinocytes?
A cap distal to the nucleus
What is the dermis made up of?
Layers of connective tissue characterised by interconnected mesh of elastin and collagen fibres, produced by dermal fibroblasts
What are the principal cells of the dermis?
Fibroblasts
What are the two layers of the dermis?
Thin papillary layer and deeper reticular layer
What makes up the thin papillary layer of the dermis?
Finger-like protrusions into the epidermal layer