Question 1

Which layer of the epidermis is found only in thick skin, such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet?

Accepted Answer

Stratum lucidum

Question 2

A patient presents with a deep laceration that penetrates through the epidermis and into the dermis. Which cell type in the dermis is primarily responsible for producing collagen to repair the wound?

Accepted Answer

Fibroblasts

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the function of melanocytes in the skin?

Accepted Answer

They produce melanin to protect against UV-induced damage.

Question 4

A surgeon is planning an incision on the skin. Why is it important to consider the lines of cleavage (tension lines) in the dermis?

Accepted Answer

Incisions made parallel to tension lines heal faster and with less scarring.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a function of the skin?

Accepted Answer

Production of red blood cells

Question 6

A person with light skin is exposed to cold temperatures and their skin turns bluish. What is the term for this condition, and what is its physiological cause?

Accepted Answer

Cyanosis; decreased oxygenation of hemoglobin

Question 7

Which type of sweat gland is most responsible for thermoregulation and is found abundantly on the palms, soles, and forehead?

Accepted Answer

Eccrine gland

Question 8

A patient suffers a burn that destroys the entire thickness of the skin, including both the epidermis and dermis. According to the Rule of Nines, what percentage of the body surface is represented by the anterior and posterior trunk combined?

Accepted Answer

$$36\%$$

Question 9

Which protein is produced by keratinocytes and is essential for the waterproofing and protection of the skin?

Accepted Answer

Keratin

Question 10

A person’s hair is turning gray and eventually white. What is the most likely cause of this change?

Accepted Answer

Decreased melanin production by melanocytes in the hair follicle

Question 11

Which layer of the skin contains the majority of blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels?

Accepted Answer

Dermis

Question 12

Which of the following best explains why fingerprints are left on surfaces we touch?

Accepted Answer

Sweat pores open along the crests of friction ridges, depositing sweat.

Question 13

A patient is experiencing excessive hair thinning and baldness. Which hormone is most likely influencing this genetically-determined response?

Accepted Answer

Androgen

Question 14

Which of the following is a correct description of the papillary layer of the dermis?

Accepted Answer

It is a thin, superficial layer made of areolar connective tissue with blood vessels and nerve endings.

Question 15

Which of the following substances can permeate the skin barrier most easily?

Accepted Answer

Fat-soluble vitamins and steroids

Question 16

A person is sweating profusely during exercise. If they lose $$2$$ liters of sweat, how much water have they lost, given that sweat is $$99\%$$ water?

Accepted Answer

$$1.98$$ liters

Question 17

Which accessory structure of the skin is responsible for sensing insects on the skin and filtering particles from inhaled air?

Accepted Answer

Hair

Question 18

Which type of cell in the epidermis acts as a macrophage and is important for immune defense?

Accepted Answer

Langerhans cell (dendritic cell)

Question 19

A topical medication is designed to be absorbed through the skin. Which property of the skin allows for the absorption of certain drugs?

Accepted Answer

The permeability of the skin to gases and fat-soluble substances

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the role of the arrector pili muscle?

Accepted Answer

It contracts to pull the hair upright and dimple the skin.

The Integumentary System: Structure, Function, and Components

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