SUGER (summary sheets) Flashcards
Where does normal proliferation of the skin occur?
Just in the basal layer
What are the 6 functions of the skin?
- Barrier to infection
- Thermoregulation
- Protection against trauma
- Vitamin D synthesis
- Regulate water loss
What are the basic layers of the skin?
- Epidermis
- Dermis
- Subcutaneous tissue
What is the outermost layer of the epidermis?
The stratum corneum
Where are corneo-desmosomes and desmosomes found in the skin?
Epidermis
What is the function of corneo-desmosomes (adhesion molecules)?
Keep the corneocytes together
When are there an increased number of corneodesmosomes in the epidermis?
In diseases such as psoriasis when there is a thickening of the stratum corneum
When are there an decreased number of corneodesmosomes in the epidermis?
In diseases such as atopic eczema when there is a thinning of the stratum corneum - meaning an increased risk of inflammation
What is the function of filaggrin?
Produces natural moisturising factor (NMF)
Where is filaggrin derived from?
From profilaggrin
What is profilaggrin?
A structural component of the cornfield envelope
How is the skins hydration maintained?
With the corneocytes being filled with NMF, which keeps water inside the skin
What is an important role of NMF?
Helps maintain an acidic environment at the outer surface of the stratum corneum
What is desquamation in skin and why is it done?
- The shedding of mature corneocytes from the surface of the stratum corneum
- In order to balance the introduction of new cells in the basal layer of the epidermis
How does the desquamation of the skin happen?
Involves the degradation of the extracellular corneo-desmosomes under the action of proteases
What is the normal pH of the skin and why is this maintained?
- pH 5.5
- Allows proteases to remain on the skin, thereby enabling the balance of new cells from the basal layers
What is the function of the lipid lamellae of the skin?
Keeps water inside the skin cells
What makes irritants and allergens ‘bounce’ off the skin?
The presence of the lipid lamellae
In the skin, what acts as an efficient barrier to the penetration of irritants and allergens?
The normal & intact stratum corneum
In the skin, which barrier prevents against water loss?
The normal & intact stratum corneum
What is the brick wall model of the skin?
- Corneocytes are bricks
- The corneodesmosomes are iron rods
- The lipid lamellae is the cement
What is the role of vitamin D in the skin?
Essential in producing the anti-microbial peptides necessary to defend the skin from bacteria and viruses
What do irritants do to the skin?
Breaks down healthy skin
What do allergens do to the skin?
Trigger skin flare ups by penetrating into the skin and causing the skin to react
What are all skin flareups caused by?
Allergens which are able to penetrate into the skin, where they are met with lymphocytes which release chemicals which induce inflammation
What does red skin mean?
Dilation of blood vessels - due to lymphocyte activity
What does itchy skin mean?
Stimulation of nerves
What does dry skin mean?
Skin cells leaking - due to lymphocyte activity
What is the effect of increased pH on skin?
Results in damage to the skin barrier since the corneodesmosomes be come damaged by the increased pH resulting in the breakdown of the skin barrier and thus increasing the risk of infection
What causes a lack of water retention in the corneocytes?
- Lack of presence of profilaggrin and consequentially filaggrin
- Means a lack of NMF so less water retention
- Causes a pH increase
What happens to the stratum corneum in acne?
Hypercornification of the stratum corneum - results in adherent cells blocking the entrance to hair follicles
After the blocking of hair follicles in the skin, what causes acne?
- Increased production of sebum by sebaceous glands (greasy skin)
- Some sebum becomes trapped in the narrow hair follicle
- The sebum stagnates in the pit of the follicle with no oxygen
- Provides anaerobic conditions which allow the propionic bacteria acnes to multiply
- They break down triglycerides into free FA, resulting in irritation, inflammation ad attraction of neutrophils
- Results in plug formation and further inflammation as the follicles is filled with neutrophils
What is cosmetically induced acne?
Acne caused by cosmetics - as they can plug the hair follicle and initiate the process
Where do the kidneys lie in the body?
- Retroperitoneal
- Between T12-L3
Where are the kidneys derived from embryologically?
The mesoderm
Why is the right kidney lower than the left?
Since it is pushed down by the liver
Where is the hilum of the right kidney?
L2
Where is the hilium of the left kidney?
L1 (transpyloric plane)
What are the 3 distinct structures of the kidney (from outside in)?
Cortex, medulla and pelvis
How thick should the cortex of the kidneys be in a healthy adult?
7mm
What does the renal medulla consist of?
20 upside down pyramids
What does the renal pelvis contain?
Fat & urine collecting system
What is the urine collecting system lined by?
Transitional epithelium
What is the cortex of the kidney compromised of?
- Renal corpuscles (Glomerulus & Bowman’s capsule)
- The proximal & distal convoluted tubules
What is the medullary ray?
A collection of loop of Henle tubules and collecting ducts that originate from the nephrons which have their renal corpuscles in the outer part of the cortex
Where is the medullary ray found?
The renal cortex
What is the function of the loop of Henle tubules?
They concentrate urine using a countercurrent multiplier system
What gives the cortex its striated appearance?
The medullary rays
Does the medulla have any renal corpuscles?
No
How are the tubules of the medulla of the kidney orientated?
Radially, pointing from the cortex to the medulla
Are there are glomeruli in the medulla of the kidney?
No - just tubes and blood vessels
What are the tubular structures of the medulla of the kidney?
- Tubules of the loop of Henle
- Tubules of the collecting duct
- Blood vessels
What is the space that the urine drains into?
The pelvis
What structures is the renal pelvis continuous with?
- The collecting ducts proximally
- The ureters distally
What is the renal pelvis lined with?
Transitional epithelium
Where do the tips of the medullary pyramids project into?
The renal pelvis - at this point the pyramids are composed purely of collecting ducts
Where does the renal artery come off the abdominal aorta?
At the level of L1
How does the renal artery divide?
Into segmental arteries which then lead to a radial network of arcuate arteries
Where do the arcuate arteries travel in the kidneys?
Around at the junction between the cortex and medulla, and then give off interlobar arteries
Where do interlobar arteries supply?
Each lobe of the kidney (a medullary pyramid and the overlying cortex)
How do the interlobar arteries divide?
To form the interlobular arteries which then terminate in the form of the afferent arterioles
What is the venous system of the kidney?
Mirrors that of the arterial system
What is the divisions of the arteries in the kidney?
- Abdominal
- Renal
- Segmental
- Arcuate
- Interlobar
- Interlobular
- Afferent arterioles
How many nephrons are there in the cortex and medulla?
Millions
What structures of the nephron are in the cortex of the kidney?
- The proximal & distal convoluted tubules
- The renal corpuscles (consists of the Glomerulus & Bowman’s capsule)
What structures of the nephron are found in the medulla of the kidney?
- Loop of Henle and collecting ducts
What structures of the nephron are found in the pelvis of the kidney?
Receives the collecting ducts
What are the 5 distinct segments of the nephrons?
- Renal corpuscle
- Proximal convoluted tubule
- Loop of Henle
- Distal convoluted tubule
- Collecting duct
What is the function of the renal corpuscle?
The filter
What is the function of the proximal convoluted tubule?
For reabsorbing solutes
What is the function of the loop of Henle?
For concentrating urine
What is the function of the distal convoluted tubule?
For reabsorbing more water and solutes
What is the function of the collecting duct?
For reabsorbing water and controlling acid base & ion balance
What does the renal corpuscle consist of?
- The glomerular tuft and Bowmans capsule
- A tuft of convoluted tubules with fenestrated walls
What is the glomerular tuft supported by?
Smooth muscle mesengial cells
What is just outside of the glomerular capillaries?
A basement membrane
What is next to the basement membrane of the capillaries?
- A layer of podocytes
What is the structure of the glomerular basement membrane?
A fusion of 2 basement membranes - the capillary basement membrane and the podocyte basement membrane
What is the most proximal point in the urinary tract?
The Bowman’s capsule
What are most of the seen cells of the glomerulus?
The mesangial cells and capillary endothelial cells
How can mesangial cells be differentiated from the capillaries?
The tissue can be stained with PAS
What does PAS stain in the kidney?
The glycoproteins in the glomerulus basement membrane - highlighting capillaries and allowing you to see the mesangial cells in-between
What is the structure of mesangial cells?
Modified smooth muscles
What are the 3 main functions of the mesangial cells?
- Structural support for the capillary and production of the extracellular matrix
- Contraction of these cells tightens capillaries and reduces GFR (important for tubuloglomerular feedback)
- Involved in the phagocytosis of membrane breakdown products
What are the two components of the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Afferent arteriole and distal convoluted tubule
What cells is the endothelium of the afferent arteriole expanded to form?
Granular cells
What are the functions of granular cells?
Able to detect blood pressure - secrete renin in response to a reduction in blood pressure
Where is the distal convoluted tubule closely aligned to?
Te glomerulus and afferent arteriole
What is the macula densa and what is its function?
An expansion of cells at the juxtagolmerular apparatus of the distal convoluted tubule which is capable of detecting sodium levels
What happens in terms of sodium when filtration is slow in the kidneys and what can be done to combat this?
- Slow filtration means more sodium with be absorbed
- Macula densa will send a signal to reduce the afferent arteriole resistance
- Increase glomerular filtration
Name another cell type which are present in the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Lacis cells
What epithelium does the proximal convoluted tubule have?
Cuboidal epithelium
What do the cells of the proximal convoluted tubule have and why?
- Have microvilli to increase SA
- This increased the absorptive capacity of the cell
Why do the cells of the proximal convoluted tubule have lots of mitochondria?
- They actively transport ions from the glomerular filtrate (including 2/3 of the sodium and potassium)
What is reabsorbed at the proximal convoluted tubule?
NaCl, proteins, polypeptides, amino acids and glucose
What else does the proximal convoluted tubule sometimes absorb?
The small protein molecules that got through the glomerulus
What is the function of the lysosomes of the proximal convoluted tubule?
- Involved in the degradation of small protein molecules that are reabsorbed from the urinary space
Which has more lysosomes: the proximal or distal convoluted tubule?
Proximal
What is the gross structure of the loop of Henle?
- Has descending and ascending limbs
- Both with thin and thick segments
What is the epithelium of the thin segments of the loop of Henle?
Simple squamous epithelium
What is the epithelium of the thick segments of the loop of Henle?
Low cuboidal
What blood vessel is the loop of Henle supplied by?
Rich vasa recta
Where does each loop of the loop of Henle dip to?
Down far into the medulla and then returns from the distal convoluted tubule to return to the same nephron it left
What passively flows out of the thin descending limb of the loop of Henle ?
Water (NOT ions) - this concentrates the urine
What is actively pumped out the ascending limb of the loop of Henle?
The ions that the body wants back
Are the vasa recta far from the glomerulus?
Yes
Where does the afferent arteriole enter in the kidney to supply oxygen?
Into the glomerulus
What is the loop of Henle prone to?
Ischaemia - temporary loss of blood supply/inadequate blood supply
How can the proximal and distal convoluted tubule be differentiated?
- The DCT doesn’t have microvilli
- The DCT is much shorter
What are the structure of the cells of the distal convoluted tubule?
- Cuboidal
- Contain mitochondria
How is the distal convoluted tubule involved in regulating acid base balance?
Acts to acidify the urine by secreting hydrogen ion into it (derived from intracellular carbonic anhydrase)
What is hypernatraemia?
High Na+
What is hypokalaemia?
Low K+
What exchange does the cells of the distal convoluted tubule do?
- Exchanges urinary Na for body K
- This effect is mediated by aldosterone
What epithelium is present in the collecting duct?
Cuboidal
What are the two cell types of the collecting duct?
Principle cells and intercalated cells
What is the function of the principle cells in the collecting duct?
- Respond to aldosterone (exchanging Na for K)
- Respond to ADH (increasing water reabsorption by insertion of aquaporin-2 into the apical membrane of the cell)
What is aquaporin-2?
Membrane channel for water reabsorption in the collecting duct
What is the function of intercalated cells in the collecting duct?
Responsible for exchanging acid for base
What do alpha intercalated cells secrete?
Acid
What do beta intercalated cells secrete?
Bicarbonate
How can the collecting duct be differentiated from the loop of Henle?
- Has plumper epithelium
- A round central nuclei
What is the structure of transitional epithelium (urothelium)?
Multilayered/stratified epithelium that is able to stretch in three dimensions meaning that the volume of the cells stay the same but the thickness and area they cover changes
What is the function of the renal pelvis?
- Transmits filtrate from nephron to the ureters
- Collecting duct drains into he pelvis