Question 1

Which of the following best describes the primary function of the hypodermis?

Accepted Answer

Attaches skin to underlying muscles and acts as a shock absorber

Question 2

A patient presents with a burn that is red, swollen, and painful, but no blisters are present. Which layer(s) of the skin are most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Epidermis only

Question 3

Which cell type in the epidermis is responsible for producing the protein that gives skin its toughness?

Accepted Answer

Keratinocytes

Question 4

A biopsy reveals an abnormally high number of melanocytes in multiple layers of the epidermis. What condition does this most likely suggest?

Accepted Answer

Early stages of melanoma

Question 5

Which of the following best explains why sweating is an effective mechanism for body temperature regulation?

Accepted Answer

Evaporation of sweat from the skin surface removes heat from the body

Question 6

Which of the following substances can most easily penetrate the physical barrier of the skin?

Accepted Answer

Lipid-soluble substances such as steroids

Question 7

A patient has a third-degree burn covering 12% of their body. According to the Rule of Nines, how would this burn be classified?

Accepted Answer

Critical, as it is over 10% of the body

Question 8

Which layer of the epidermis is responsible for the continuous production of new skin cells?

Accepted Answer

Stratum basale

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the function of Langerhans’ cells in the skin?

Accepted Answer

Act as macrophages to help activate the immune response

Question 10

A patient with a genetic defect in keratin production would most likely experience which of the following symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Increased risk of bacterial infection due to a weakened physical barrier

Question 11

Which of the following glands is responsible for producing a secretion that is broken down by bacteria to cause body odor?

Accepted Answer

Apocrine sweat glands

Question 12

Which pigment is primarily responsible for the yellow to orange coloration of the skin, especially in the palms and soles?

Accepted Answer

Carotene

Question 13

A patient with a mutation that prevents the formation of desmosomes in the epidermis would most likely have which of the following symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Increased skin fragility and blistering

Question 14

Which of the following is a function of sebum produced by sebaceous glands?

Accepted Answer

Prevents water loss from the skin

Question 15

A patient with a deficiency in vitamin D synthesis due to lack of sunlight exposure is at risk for which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Rickets or osteomalacia

Question 16

Which of the following best explains why the stratum corneum is an effective barrier against water loss?

Accepted Answer

It is composed of dead, flattened cells with thickened plasma membranes and intercellular lipids

Question 17

A patient with a mutation that impairs the function of Merkel cells would most likely have difficulty with which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Detecting fine touch sensations

Question 18

Which of the following is a characteristic of melanoma that distinguishes it from other types of skin cancer?

Accepted Answer

It is highly metastatic and resistant to chemotherapy

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the process by which the skin helps excrete waste products?

Accepted Answer

Sweat glands excrete urea, ammonia, and salts through perspiration

Question 20

A patient with a laceration that cuts perpendicular to the lines of cleavage in the dermis is likely to experience which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Slower healing and more scarring

The Integumentary System: Structure and Function

Study Guide - Practice Questions