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Dermatology > Structure and function of skin > Flashcards

Structure and function of skin Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three layers of the skin?

A

Epidermis - outer layer

Dermis - connective tissue

Subcutaneous - fat layer

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2
Q

Where does the epidermis come from embryologically?

A

Ectoderm cells forming a single layer periderm

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3
Q

Where does the dermis come from embryologically?

A

Mesoderm

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4
Q

What are melanocytes?

A

Pigment producing dendritic cells

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5
Q

Where do melanocytes come from embryologically? When?

A

Neural crest

The first 3 months of development

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6
Q

What are Blaschko’s lines?

A

Developmental growth pattern of the skin

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7
Q

What are the appendages of the skin?

A

Nails
Hair
Glands
Mucosae

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8
Q

What cell types make up the epidermis?

A

Keratinocytes - 95%

Melanocytes
Merkel cells
Langerhans cells

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9
Q

What type of epithelium is the epidermis?

A

Stratified squamous epithelium

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10
Q

What are the four cell layers of the epidermis?

A

Keratin layer

Granular layer

Prickle cell layer

Basal layer

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11
Q

Hoe long does it take keratinocytes to migrate from the basement membrane to the epidermis?

A

28 days

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12
Q

What can be found in the basal layer?

A

Intermediate filaments - keratin

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13
Q

What are the main basal layer properties?

A

One cell thick

Small cuboidal cells

Highly metabolically active

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14
Q

What is found between the epidermis and dermis?

A

Dermo-epidermal junction

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15
Q

What are the three skin layers at 4 weeks gestation?

A

Periderm

Basal layer

Dermis (corium)

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16
Q

What are found in the prickle cell layer?

A

Desmosomes - connections

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17
Q

What connects to desmosomes?

A

Intermediate filaments

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18
Q

What cells make up the prickle cell layer?

A

Large polyhedral cells

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19
Q

How many layers of cells make up the granular layer?

A

2-3 layers

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20
Q

What bodies are present in the granular layer?

A

Odland bodies - lamellar bodies

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21
Q

What are Odland bodies?

A

Secretory organelles that contribute to the skin barrier

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22
Q

Which granules are found in the granular layer of the skin?

A

Large keratohyalin granules

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23
Q

Which layer has a high lipid content and a loss of cell nuclei?

A

Granular layer

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24
Q

What is the keratin layer made up of?

A

Corneocytes

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25
Q

What are corneocytes?

A

Overlapping non-nucleated cell remnants

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26
Q

What is the key functional property of the keratin layer?

A

It is a tight waterproof barrier

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27
Q

What is 80% of the keratin layer made up of?

A

Keratin and filaggrin

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28
Q

What are the organelles found in melanocytes called?

A

Melanosomes

29
Q

What is converted to melanin in melanocytes?

30
Q

What is the difference between melanosomes in lighter and darker skin types?

A

Darker skin types have larger melanosomes which contain more melanin than lighter skin types

31
Q

What is eumelanin?

A

Melanin that gives a brown / black pigment

32
Q

What is phaeomelanin?

A

Melanin that gives a red / yellow pigment

33
Q

Is there more eumelanin or phaeomelanin in darker skin types?

34
Q

What is the mesenchymal origin of Langerhans cells?

A

Bone marrow

35
Q

Where can Langerhans cells be found?

A

Prickle cell layer
Dermis
Lymph nodes

36
Q

Where are Merkel cells found?

A

Between keratinocytes and nerve fibres

37
Q

What are Merkel cells?

A

Basal mechanoreceptors

38
Q

Which oral mucosa is keratinised?

Which is non-keratinised?

A

Masticatory mucosa

Lining mucosa

39
Q

What type of organ is the skin?

A

Neuroimmunoendocrine organ

40
Q

Where do blood vessels run in the skin?

41
Q

What are the functions of the dermo-epidermal juntion?

A

Give support and anchorage to the growth and differentiation of basal cells

Semi-permeable membranes acting as a barrier and a filter between the dermis and epidermis

42
Q

What two proteins are essential in the dermo-epidermal junction?

A

Desmosomes
Hemidesmosomes

43
Q

What allow the bypass of superficial capillaries when cold?

A

\Shunts - AV anastomoses

44
Q

What happens in the overabundance of vessels in the skin?

45
Q

What are the two key immune functions of lymphatic vessels?

A

Allowing passage of Langerhans cells to lymph nodes

Channelling of micro-organisms / toxins

46
Q

What type of special receptor detect pressure?

A

Pacinian corpuscles

47
Q

What type of special receptor detect vibration?

A

Meissner’s corpuscles

48
Q

What skin layer can Meissner’s corpuscles be found in?

49
Q

What skin layer can Pacinianq corpuscles be found in?

A

Subcutaneous

50
Q

What are the three main types of skin gland?

A

Sebaceous

Apocrine

Eccrine

51
Q

What is produced by sebaceous glands?

A

Sebum - squalene, wax esters, cholesterol and free fatty acids

52
Q

What is produced by apocrine sweat glands?

A

Produce oily fluid that have an odour after bacterial decomposition

53
Q

What type of nerve supply controls eccrine sweat glands?

A

Sympathetic cholinergic nerves

54
Q

What is the main function of eccrine sweat glands?

A

Cooling by evaporation

55
Q

What four components make up a pilosebaceous unit?

A

Hair follicle
Hair shaft
Arrector pilli muscle
Sebaceous glands

56
Q

What are the three main segments of a hair follicle?

A

Infundibulum

Isthmus

Hair bulb

57
Q

What are the four phases of hair growth?

A

Anagen

Catagen

Telogen

Exogen

58
Q

What is the growing phase of hair follicles?

59
Q

What is the involuting phase of hair follicles?

60
Q

What is the resting phase of hair follicles?

61
Q

What are the three types of hair follicle?

A

Lanugo (in utero)

Vellus

Terminal

62
Q

What is the average growth rate of nails?

A

0.1mm per day

63
Q

What are the three regions of a fingernail?

A

Nail plate

Lateral nail fold

Lunula

64
Q

What are sebaceous glands?

A

Holocrine secretions opening into a pilary canal

65
Q

From tip to base, what are the layers underneath a fingernail?

A

Epidermis

Hyponychium

Nail bed

Nail matrix

66
Q

What is the shedding phase of hair follicles?

67
Q

Give some key functions of the skin?

A

Physical barrier
Metabolism
Thermoregulation
Immune defence
Sensory functions

68
Q

What two metabolic pathways are carried out in the skin?

A

Vitamin D metabolism

Thyroid hormone metabolism - 80%

Dermatology (15 decks)

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