The Skin

Question 1

What is the largest organ in the body?

Answer 1

The skin

Question 2

What are the three layers of the skin?

Answer 2

Epidermis
Dermis
Subcutaneous tissue

Question 3

What is the outermost layer of the epidermis and what is its function?

Answer 3

The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis and serves as a major physical barrier

Question 4

What is the deepest layer of the epidermis?

Answer 4

The basal cell layer

Question 5

How long does the process of maturation, keratinization, and shedding take?

Answer 5

Approximately 4 weeks.

Question 6

What is the layer beneath the epidermis?

Answer 6

The dermis which is the dense connective tissue stroma forming the bulk of the skin

Question 7

Which layer of the skin is supplied with both sensory and ANS innervation?

Answer 7

The dermis

Question 8

What is the role of the ANS in the dermis?

Answer 8

Supply the arrector pili muscles, blood vessels, and sweat glands.

Question 9

What is the role of the subcutaneous layer of the skin?

Answer 9

It is a thermal regulator, as well as a protection for the more superficial skin layers from bone prominences

Question 10

What structures are considered the skin appendages?

Answer 10

The sweat glands, hair follicles, and nails

Question 11

What controls the release of sweat from the eccrine glands?

Answer 11

The SNS

Question 12

What is the major trigger for the apocrine glands?

Answer 12

Stress

Question 13

What is the purpose of the sebaceous glands?

Answer 13

They secrete sebum, which is discharged directly into the lumen of the hair follicle, where it lubricates the hair shaft and spreads to the skin surface.

Question 14

What is the purpose of nails?

Answer 14

They protect the tips of the fingers and toes against trauma

Question 15

Why does chemotherapy causes hair loss, along with anemia, nausea, and vomiting?

Answer 15

The cells at this end of the follicle, along with those of the bone marrow and gut epithelium, are the most rapidly growing dividing cells in the human body

Question 16

What causes goose bumps?

Answer 16

Contraction of the arrector pili muscles

Question 17

What skin condition is caused by extravasated blood into the skin?

Answer 17

Petechiae or purpura

Question 18

What do the ABCDE of skin assessment stand for?

Answer 18

A symmetry of shape
B order irregularity
C olor variation
D iameter larger than 6 mm 
E volving

Question 19

What are Beau’s lines and what causes them to develop?

Answer 19

Transverse grooves or depressions parallel to the lunula. Any severe, systemic illness that disrupts nail growth can produce Beau’s lines

Question 20

What are Mees’ bands?

Answer 20

White transverse line or band results from poisoning or an acute systemic illness.

Question 21

What are Lindsey’s nails?

Answer 21

The proximal portion of the nail bed is whitish, whereas the distal part is red or pink.

Question 22

What disease processes cause Lindsey’s nails to develop?

Answer 22

Chronic renal disease and azotemia are the commonly associated conditions with this type of nail abnormality

Question 23

Why is it important to assess tissue turgor?

Answer 23

It provides a mechanism for estimating the patient’s general state of hydration

Question 24

What is the normal growth of a nail?

Answer 24

Approximately 1mm per week

Question 25

What is the term used to describe white nail beds to within 1-2mm of the distal border of the nail?

Answer 25

Terry’s nails

Question 26

What pathology are splinter hemorrhages typically associated with?

Answer 26

Subacute bacterial endocarditis

Question 27

What pathology are spoon nails most commonly associated with?

Answer 27

Iron deficiency anemia

Question 28

What term is used to describe the angle between the nail base and finger?

Answer 28

Lovibond’s angle

Question 29

At what point is Lovibonds angle considered clubbing?

Answer 29

Lovibond’s angle greatly exceeds 180 degrees