Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Dermatology > Structure Of The Skin - Appendages > Flashcards

Structure Of The Skin - Appendages Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three skin appendages

A

Hair, nails, glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the three main skin glands

A

•Sebaceous
•Apocrine
•Eccrine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where are sebaceous glands found in the body

A

Widely distributed:
largest glands in face and chest
=> most common areas of acne!!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Where are sebaceous glands in the skin and where do their secretions leave the skin

A

Wrapped around the hair follicle (pilosebaceous unit)
Holocrine secretion opening into pilary canal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Are sebaceous glands always active

A

No, they are hormone sensitive & so are quiescent pre-puberty. This explains the relationship between puberty & acne

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What liquid do sebaceous glands secrete & what is this composed of

A

Sebum
- a mixture of lipids
- e.g. squalene, wax esters, TG and FFA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the role of sebaceous glands

A

Control moisture loss & protect against fungal infection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Where are eccrine sweat glands located in the skin and where do they open into

A

Located in the dermis
Secrete onto skin surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Where are eccrine sweat glands most prominent

A

palms, soles, forehead and axillae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How are eccrine sweat glands regulated

A

Sympathetic cholinergic nerve supply –
mental, thermal and gustatory stimulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the function of eccrine glands

A

cooling by evaporation
moisten palms / soles to aid grip

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe the secretions produced by the eccrine sweat glands

A

Sweat
- Hypotonic fluid
- Mainly water (~98%)
- Some electrolytes e.g. NaCl, but most electrolytes reabsorbed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Where are apocrine sweat glands located in the skin

A

The dermis
They develop as part of the pilosebaceous unit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Where are apocrine sweat glands most prominent

A

Axillae, groin, eyelids, ears, mammary and perineal regions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How are apocrine sweat glands regulated

A

Androgen dependent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe the fluid secreted by apocrine glands & explain its odour

A

Produce an oily fluid which produces an odour after hitting the skin and being decomposed by bacteria

17
Q

Name the phases of hair follicle growth & state what happens in them

A

Anagen = growing
Catagen = involuting
Telogen = resting
Exogen = shedding

18
Q

Where in the body does skin not have hair follicles
(& so no pilosebaceous units & so no sebaceous/ apocrine glands)

A

Hands, soles of the feet & lips

19
Q

How is hair follicle growth regulated

A

It is influenced by hormonal levels e.g. thyroxine, androgens

20
Q

Is hair loss permanent in alopcia areata (autoimmune hair loss) Why or why not?

A

No - autoimmune reaction doesn’t permanently damage the follicle

21
Q

What are pilosebaceous units composed of

A

Hair follicle
Hair shaft
Arrector pili muscle
Sebaceous glands

22
Q

What is the role of arrector pili muscles

A

When it contracts it causes the hair to stand erect, and a “goosebump” forms on the skin

This serves as a thermoregulator to help maintain body temp in cold conditions

23
Q

What are the three segments of a hair follicle

A
  • Infundibulum - between the sebaceous gland duct & the epidermal surface
  • Isthmus - between the insertion of the arrector pili muscle & the sebaceous gland duct
  • Hair bulb - contains the hair matrix & hair papilla, is the deepest part of the hair follicle
24
Q

What determines/ produces hair pigmentation

A

Melanocytes, that are located just above the dermal papilla

25
Q

What is the papilla of the hair follicle (dermal papilla) & what is its role

A

Specialised connective tissue at the base of a hair follicle
Have androgen receptors & control hair growth
Provides oxygen/blood supply to hair bulb

26
Q

What changes in the dermal papilla are associated with hair thinning

A

Reduced size & cellular activity

27
Q

Describe the 3 layers of the hair shaft

A

Outer layer - Cuticle made up of keratin
Middle layer - Cortex made up of specialised keratinocytes
Inner layer - Medulla (only found in thick, coarse hair)

28
Q

Name the two layers that cover the hair follicle cortex

A

External & internal root sheath

29
Q

Does the hair shaft grow?

A

No - the hair follicle is the part that grows

30
Q

Compare the hair structure of an Asian vs Black vs Caucasian individual

A

Asian hair
- straight hair
- strong hair
- round, large cross-sectional hair follicle
- fastest growing hair
- high/low hair density

Caucasian hair
- straight/ curly hair
- strong hair
- round/oval cross-sectional hair follicle
- fast/slow growing hair
- highest hair density, most moisture content

Black hair
- curly hair
- fragile hair
- ellipsoidal cross-sectional hair follicle
- slowest growing hair
- lowest hair density

31
Q

Where is nail produced

A

Nail matrix

32
Q

What is nail composed of

A

Specialised keratins

33
Q

Name a drug that increases nail growth

A

Anti fungals

34
Q

Name the main components of nail

A

Nail matrix - where growth occurs, under skin
Cuticle - protects nail matrix
Nail bed - underneath the nail plate
Nail plate - the nail itself

35
Q

Name the three layers of the nail plate

A

Dorsal (outermost)
Intermediate
Ventral (innermost)

36
Q

Summarise the three glands

A

Distribution
- sebaceous glands - largest in face & chest
- apocrine gland - axilla, mammary, ear, groin/perineal, eyelid
- eccrine (sweat) glands - most in palm/soles, forehead, axilla

Location
- sebaceous glands - wrapped around hair follicle
- apocrine glands - dermis, develop into pilosebaceous unit
- eccrine (sweat) glands - dermis

Opening
- sebaceous glands - pilary canal
- apocrine glands - pilary canal
- eccrine (sweat) glands - skin surface

Regulation/ stimulation
- sebaceous glands - hormone sensitive, activated by puberty
- apocrine glands - androgen dependant
- eccrine (sweat) glands - sympathetic cholinergic NS

Secretions
- sebaceous glands - sebum (mixture of lipids)
- apocrine glands - oily fluid
- eccrine (sweat) glands - hypotonic fluid (~98% water)

Role
- sebaceous glands - controls moisture, prevents fungal inf.
- eccrine (sweat) glands - cool by evaporation, moisten palms

Associated clinical disorder
- sebaceous glands - acne
- apocrine glands - HS
- eccrine (sweat) glands - Miliaria

Dermatology (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions