Introduction to Integumentary System

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Questions and Answers

What is the largest organ of the human body?

The skin

What are the three layers of the skin?

Epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layer

What is one way the skin protects the body from harmful agents?

By serving as a protective barrier

What is produced by the skin when it is exposed to UV rays?

Melanin Signup and view all the answers

What is one way the skin absorbs substances into the body?

Through transdermal absorption Signup and view all the answers

How does the skin help to regulate body temperature?

By dilating or constricting blood vessels and releasing sweat Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of sweat glands in the skin?

To release sweat to cool the body Signup and view all the answers

What is one example of a medication that can be administered through transdermal absorption?

Motion sickness medications Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of cell division that leads to the formation of keratin in cells?

Keratinization Signup and view all the answers

What is the outermost layer of the skin responsible for?

Cell regeneration Signup and view all the answers

What is the middle layer of the skin also referred to as?

'True skin' Signup and view all the answers

What type of tissue composes the dermis?

Connective tissue Signup and view all the answers

What is found in the dermis?

Blood vessels, sebaceous and sweat glands, hair follicles and lymph vessels Signup and view all the answers

What gives skin its color?

Pigment from melanocytes Signup and view all the answers

Where is the receptive site for the pigment of tattoos located?

Dermis Signup and view all the answers

What layer of skin is most responsible for keratinization?

Stratum Corneum Signup and view all the answers

What is Herpes Simplex Virus Type I commonly associated with?

The face, including lips and mouth Signup and view all the answers

How is Herpes Simplex Virus Type II typically transmitted?

Sexually Signup and view all the answers

What is Herpes Zoster commonly known as?

Shingles Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of warts?

Viruses in the HPV family (human papillomavirus) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common treatment for warts?

Salicylic acid or cryotherapy Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible outcome if you have not had chickenpox and are exposed to the sores from shingles?

You could get chickenpox Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of a 1st degree burn?

Redness only, affecting the epidermis Signup and view all the answers

What are the three major types of skin cancer?

Basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, and Malignant melanoma Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common cause of acne vulgaris?

Hormonal changes and clogged pores Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of a dysplastic nevus in malignant melanoma?

An abnormal mole Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of contact dermatitis?

Allergic reaction to irritating substances Signup and view all the answers

What is the common feature of scleroderma?

Thickened, rigid skin Signup and view all the answers

What are the common food triggers of eczema?

Eggs, milk, peanuts, seafood, and wheat Signup and view all the answers

What areas of the body are primarily affected by herpes simplex?

Mouth or genital area Signup and view all the answers

What are the two layers of the dermis?

Reticular layer and Papillary layer Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the subcutaneous layer?

To support, nourish, insulate, and cushion the skin Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the sebaceous glands?

To produce oil Signup and view all the answers

What are the three layers of hair?

Medulla, Cortex, and Cuticle Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the hair papilla?

To surround the loop of capillaries Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the nail matrix?

To produce new nail cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the sudoriferous glands?

To produce sweat Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of hair in humans?

To provide warmth, sense light touch, and protect the eyes, ears, and nose Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Integumentary System

The skin is the largest organ of the human body
Composed of three layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layer
Accessory structures include: hair, nails, sebaceous glands, and sudoriferous glands

Functions of Skin

Protection: serves as a protective barrier to internal structures, prevents harmful agents from entering the body, and produces melanin to guard against the sun's UV rays
Sensation: detects sensations such as pressure, temperature, and pain
Absorption: allows substances to enter the body through transdermal absorption, medication lotions, and transdermal patches
Secretion: produces sweat to regulate body temperature
Regulation: regulates body temperature through blood vessels and sweat glands

Epidermis

The outermost layer of skin
Composed of keratinized cells that are constantly shed and replaced
Contains melanocytes, which produce melanin, giving skin its color
Thickness varies, and it is absent in stratum lucidum

Dermis

The middle layer of skin, also referred to as "true skin"
Composed of connective tissue containing nerves, blood vessels, sebaceous and sweat glands, hair follicles, and lymph vessels
Consists of two layers: papillary layer and reticular layer
The receptive site for the pigment of tattoos

Subcutaneous Layer

The innermost layer of skin
Composed of loose connective tissue with small lobes of fat
Helps support, nourish, insulate, and cushion skin
Contains larger blood vessels and nerves than those found in the dermis
Medication is often administered into the subcutaneous layer

Accessory Structures of the Skin

Hair and hair follicles: provide warmth, sense light touch, and protect the eyes, ears, and nose
Sebaceous glands: produce oil that lubricates the hair and skin
Nails: grow from the nail matrix, filled with keratin, and protect the tips of fingers and toes
Sudoriferous glands: produce sweat to regulate body temperature

Hair

Three concentric layers: medulla, cortex, and cuticle
The hair papilla is the loop of capillaries enclosed in connective tissue at the base of each hair follicle

Nails

Nails grow from an area of rapidly dividing cells known as the nail matrix or nail root
Nails rest on a bed of tissue filled with blood vessels, giving them a pinkish color

Skin Cancer

Most common of all cancers, affecting more than one million people each year
Three major types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma

Skin Conditions

Acne vulgaris: a common skin condition that occurs when oil and dead cells clog pores, most commonly affecting teens
Alopecia: baldness or hair loss, affecting 1 in 100 people, can be an inherited disorder or a side effect of chemotherapy
Cellulitis: an acute, spreading bacterial infection below the surface of the skin, common in diabetic patients
Contact dermatitis: an allergic reaction caused by irritating substances, such as poison ivy, poison oak, or allergies to metals, lotions, or detergents
Eczema: a chronic skin condition caused by an allergic-type reaction, typically hereditary, and most commonly triggered by certain foods
Herpes simplex: a viral infection that primarily affects the mouth or genital area, with two strains: HSV-1 and HSV-2
Herpes zoster: commonly known as shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox), and can reappear as blisters after laying dormant for many years
Warts: caused by viruses in the HPV family, can grow anywhere on the body, and can be treated with salicylic acid or trichloroacetic acid, or cryotherapy

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Description

This quiz covers the basics of the integumentary system, including its structure, functions, and accessory organs. It is an essential topic in medical microbiology for students of medical laboratory technologies.