The integumentary system Flashcards
where is thick skin found
only on plantar and palmar surfaces, around 4mm thick, thin skin covers the rest of the body
three main layers of the skin
epidermis, dermis and hypodermis
there are also sweat glands and hairs which have sebaceous glands and a smooth muscle called the erector pili muscle
epidermis
thin outer portion that is the keratinised stratified squamous epithelium of skin (keratin threadlike protein, protective role)
epidermis has an important protective function of skin
the basal layers of this epithelium are folded to form dermal papillae
what are the epidermis layers
stratum corneum stratum lucidium (only thick skin) stratum granulosum stratum spinosum stratum basale
stratum corneum
protection- keratinised stratified squamous epithelium( layers of flattened keratinised (dead) cells), no blood supply relies on blood supply from dermis
cells are completely filled with keratin filaments embedded in a dense matrix of proteins
space between cells is full of lipids that cement the cells together, closer to the surface has looser appearance
cells are constantly lost from this layer
stratum lucidium
highly reflective only seen in thick skin
stratum granulosum
in thick skin, a few layers kf flattened cells eith cytoplasmic granules
in thin skin, only one layer may be visible
nuclei begin to degenerate
cytoplasm contains many fine grains of keratohyalin granules which release their lipid components into the interstitial space, this acts as a protective barrier
stratum spinosum
keratinocytes attached to each other by desmosomes on spiny processes, several layers of polyhedral cells
stratum basale
single layer of germinal cells resting on the basement membrane which is attached to the dermis- low columnar or cuboidal cells at the base of the epidermis
these are the stem cells of the epidermis
renewal of epidermis takes about 3-4 weeks
keratinocytes0
90% of epidermal cells, ectodermally derived. waterproof protection- keratinised, stratified, squamous epithelium.
synthetic phase- build up cytoplasmic supply of keratin, arranged in an alpha-helical coil pattern of the cells cytoskeleton. bundles of keratin filaments converge on and terminate at the plasma membrane forming the intracellular attachment plates know as desmosomes
degradative phase- cellular organelles lost, contents of cell consolidated into mixture of keratin filaments and amorphous cell envelopes, cell finally known as corneocyte. process of maturation resulting in cell death is known as terminal differentiation
melanocytes
8% of epidermal cell
dendritic, pigment-synthesising cell derived from the neural crest and confined in the skin predominantly to the basal layer un-pigmented do not store melanin which is transferred to other keratinocytes in membrane bound organelles
langerhan cells
collectively form a defensive network in the epidermis
primarily located k stratus spinosum, phagocytic cells that engulf foreign materials that invade the epidermis
contact with an antigen they migrate out of epidermis and skin to lymph nodes
merkel cells
granular basal epidermal cells, attached to a free nerve ending
mostly found in thick skin
oval shaped, slow adapting, type one mechanoreceptors located in sites of high tactile sensitivity that are attached to basal keratinocytes by desmosomal junctions
sebaceous glands
produce lipid rich sebum released into hair follicle
size and activity increase in response to increasing leveks kf androgens
if gland blocked, sebum can be forced out into dermis, elicits an inflammatory response, can cause acne
sudoriferous or sweat glands
eccrine- secrete a watery fluid, evaporation important for thermoregulation
apocrine- produce cloudy secretion which smells if bacteria react with it, production of pheromones
ceruminous glands
external auditory canal, combines with sebum to produce earwax
dermis
fundamentally composed of fibrillary structural protein collagen. dense irregular connective tissue that supports the epidermis important for sensation, protection and thermoregulation. lies on the subcutaneous tissue which contain lipocytes small lobes of fat dells
papillary layer- papillae that project into dermis
dermal papillae increase adhesion between epidermis and dermis, papillary capillaries bring nutrients to epidermis
reticular layer- dense irregular connective tissue
encapsulated nerve endings in the dermis
mechanoreceptors- sensory receptors that responds to mechanical pressure or distortion.
meissners corpuscle- nerve endings in skin responsible form sensitivity to light touch
pacinian corpuscle- nerve endings in skin responsible for sensitivity to vibration and pressure
which pigments contribute to skin colour
melanin, carotene, haemoglobin
functions of the skin
protection, sensation, thermoregulation, metabolic functions
skin levels of protection
epidermis is largely responsible for providing the protective barrier between the body and external environment
dermis contains collagen fibres that provide a structural framework that hosts a dynamic immunologic environment
epidermis hosts 2 key players in immune function of skin: keratinocytes and resident dendritic cells called langerhan cells
dendritic cells found in dermis differ from langerhan cells, having different surface cell markers and functions
langerhan cells are antigen presenting cells in the epidermis that cluster around hair follicles, process antigens and migrate to regional lymph nodes where they play an important role during infection and tolerance induction