Integumentary System: Skin Structure and Burns

• Normally 10% to 12% of the cells in the stratum basale enter mitosis each day.

Dermal-Epidermal Junction

• Is composed chiefly of basement membrane.
• Its function is to "glue" the two layers of skin together.

Dermis

• Contains a papillary/reticular layer.
• It plays an important role in body temperature regulation.
• The dermis is thinner on the dorsal side of the body than on the ventralside.

Burns

• Can be caused by: ultraviolet light, corrosive chemicals, and electrical current.
• The area of the skin in an average-size adult is around 18 square feet.
• The integumentary system refers to the skin and its appendages.
• Keratinocytes are cells of the skin filled with a tough, fibrous protein and account for most of the epidermal cells of the skin.
• Dendritic cells act as a type of antigen-presenting cell in the skin.

Cell Layers

• The cell layers of skin from the most superficial to the deepest: Stratum corneum, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum, and basale.
• About 35 days are required for the completion of mitosis, differentiation, and movement of new cells from the stratum basale to the surface of the skin.
• Cells rich in RNA to increase the efficiency of protein synthesis are located in the stratum spinosum.
• Cells filled with a protein called eleidin are located in the stratum lucidum.
• Cells with a high level of lysosomal enzymes in their cytoplasm are in the stratum granulosum.

Skin Colors

• Eumelanin is the darkest skin pigment.
• Pheomelanin is a light reddish skin pigment.
• Skin looks cyanotic because there's oxygen-poor blood.
• Fever would cause an increase in body temperature caused by pyrogens.

Abnormal Body Temperatures

• Muscle relaxants or anesthetics can cause Malignant hyperthermia.
• Improper function of the sebaceous glands can cause Hair to become brittle and dry.
• The subcutaneous layer has a rich blood supply and loose spongy texture, making it an ideal site for administering liquid medications.
• Trauma to long fingernails usually causes Onycholysis.
• A body temperature of 105° F; a rapid heart rate; headache is caused by Heat stroke.
• Second-degree is diagnosed for Burns to the deep epidermal layers and injury to the upper layers of the dermis.
• Somatic sensory receptors are deep in the dermis to detect pressure on the skin surface.
• Dendritic cells find markers on bacteria, other invaders, and present them to other immune system cells for recognition and destruction.
• Abrasion of the skin surface can accelerate the regeneration time required for completion of mitosis, differentiation, and movement of new keratinocytes from the stratum basale to the surface of the epidermis.
• Elastic skins in the reticular layer makes it possible for skin to stretch.
• Pinkish, depressed furrows with jagged edges in an axillary region results from healing due to tiny tears in the dermis.
• Sebaceous, eccrine, and ceruminous are 3 microscopic glands found on skin.

Skin Conditions

• The liver's inability to eliminate bile from the blood efficiently results in jaundice.
• Immunity is a function of the skin that occurs by attacking and destroying pathogens.
• The stratum corneum layer is probably thinner in in infants which causes them to be more easily damaged by penetration or abrasion.
• The lack of the enzyme tyrosinase will result in albinism.
• Thin skin is not hairless.
• The dermis is not in a constant state of regeneration is not true of dermal growth and repair
• Contains mostly loose connective tissue and adipose tissue is not true to describe the hypodermis.
• The skin's excretory function does not play an important excretory role for the body.
• The thyroid gland is what homeostatically regulates body temperature.
• Friction ridges form fingerprints and footprints, enhances the ability to grip surfaces, and act as sensory aids that amplify vibrations.