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Integumentary System - Anatomy & Physiology

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Terms in this set (31)

  • What are the two major components of the integumentary system?
    Cutaneous membrane and accessory structures.
  • What layers compose the cutaneous membrane?
    The epidermis (stratified squamous epithelium) and the dermis (papillary and reticular layers).
  • Name the accessory structures of the integumentary system.
    Hairs, nails, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, sensory receptors, arrector pili muscles, and cutaneous plexus.
  • What is the subcutaneous layer and is it part of the integument?
    The subcutaneous layer (hypodermis) separates the integument from deep fascia and is not part of the integument.
  • What is the primary cell type in the epidermis?
    Keratinocytes are the primary cell type in the epidermis.
  • How many strata are in thick skin and where is it found?
    Thick skin has five strata and is found on the palms and soles.
  • What is the function of epidermal ridges?
    Epidermal ridges increase surface area for better attachment to the dermis.
  • Describe the stratum basale.
    The deepest epidermal layer attached to the basement membrane; contains basal stem cells and Merkel cells for touch.
  • What cells are found in the stratum spinosum and their function?
    Keratinocytes bound by desmosomes and dendritic (Langerhans) cells that participate in immune defense.
  • What happens in the stratum granulosum?
    Keratinocytes stop dividing, produce keratin and keratohyalin, and their membranes thicken.
  • Where is the stratum lucidum found and what is its characteristic?
    Found only in thick skin; composed of flattened, densely packed dead cells filled with keratin.
  • What is the stratum corneum and its function?
    The outermost layer with 15–30 layers of dead keratinized cells; provides a water-resistant barrier.
  • What pigments influence skin color?
    Carotene (orange-yellow) and melanin (brown to black) primarily influence skin color.
  • How does blood supply affect skin color?
    Increased blood flow makes skin redder; decreased flow and oxygen cause pale or bluish (cyanosis) skin.
  • What is basal cell carcinoma?
    The most common skin cancer originating in the stratum basale, usually caused by UV radiation, with low metastasis.
  • What distinguishes malignant melanoma?
    A dangerous cancer of melanocytes that grows rapidly and metastasizes; early detection greatly improves survival.
  • What are the two layers of the dermis?
    The papillary layer (areolar connective tissue) and the reticular layer (dense irregular connective tissue).
  • What is the function of the subcutaneous layer?
    Separates skin from deeper tissues and stores energy in adipose tissue.
  • Name the sensory receptors found in the dermis.
    Meissner corpuscles (light touch), Pacinian corpuscles (deep pressure), and Ruffini corpuscles (pressure/stretch).
  • What are the clinical implications of tension (cleavage) lines in skin?
    Surgical cuts parallel to cleavage lines heal better with less scarring; perpendicular cuts tend to scar more.
  • What are the classifications of burns by depth?
    First-degree (epidermis only), second-degree (epidermis and part of dermis), third-degree (full thickness including subcutaneous).
  • What is the rule of nines?
    A method to estimate the percentage of body surface area affected by burns.
  • What are the types of skin grafts used in burn treatment?
    Split-thickness grafts (epidermis and superficial dermis) and full-thickness grafts (epidermis and full dermis).
  • What are the two types of hair and their characteristics?
    Terminal hairs are large, coarse, pigmented; vellus hairs are smaller, shorter, and delicate.
  • What is the role of the arrector pili muscle?
    A smooth muscle that contracts to pull hair erect, causing 'goosebumps.'
  • What are sebaceous glands and their secretion?
    Holocrine glands that secrete sebum, an oily mixture that lubricates hair and skin and has antimicrobial properties.
  • What are the two types of sweat glands and their functions?
    Apocrine glands produce odorous secretions in specific areas; merocrine (eccrine) glands produce watery sweat for thermoregulation.
  • What is the structure and function of nails?
    Nails are thick sheets of keratinized cells that protect finger and toe tips and help limit digit distortion.
  • How does aging affect the integumentary system?
    Fewer melanocytes, drier and thinner epidermis, diminished immune response, thinning dermis, decreased perspiration, slower repair, and altered hair/fat distribution.
  • How does the skin contribute to vitamin D3 production?
    UV radiation converts steroids in epidermal cells to cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), which is then processed to calcitriol for calcium absorption.
  • What are the four phases of skin regeneration after injury?
    Inflammation, migration, proliferation, and scarring phases.