Skin Appendages Overview

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Questions and Answers

What are the four main appendages of the skin?

Sweat glands, sebaceous (oil) glands, hair, and nails

What are sebaceous glands?

Oil glands responsible for lubricating skin, preventing brittle hair, and killing bacteria. Activated at puberty.

What is an eccrine gland?

Found all over the body, produce sweat and release secretions onto the skin surface via pores.

What is an apocrine gland?

Found in the genital region and under the arms, their secretions contain fatty acids and proteins which smell bad when they come into contact with bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

What is the composition of sweat?

Water, salts, vitamin C, some metabolic waste, fatty acids and protein (apocrine only) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of sweat?

Helps dissipate excess heat, excretes waste products, and its acidic properties inhibit bacterial growth. Signup and view all the answers

What is hair?

A skin appendage produced by a follicle consisting of keratinized epithelial cells. Signup and view all the answers

What are sudoriferous glands?

Sweat glands. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hair follicle?

It produces hair. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hair root?

Part of the hair that is embedded in the hair follicle. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hair shaft?

Part of the hair that projects from the surface of the scalp. Signup and view all the answers

What is the growth zone (hair bulb matrix)?

Structure within the hair follicle that produces hair cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is the arrector pili muscle?

Smooth muscle that pulls hair upright when cold or frightened (goosebumps). Signup and view all the answers

What is the central medulla?

Innermost layer of the hair shaft. Signup and view all the answers

What is the cortex?

Part of the hair shaft that surrounds the central medulla. Signup and view all the answers

What is the hair cuticle?

Outermost structure of the hair shaft which is heavily keratinized. Signup and view all the answers

What are nails?

Scale-like modifications of the epidermis. Signup and view all the answers

What is the free edge of a nail?

White portion of a nail that extends from the finger or toe and is not directly attached to the underlying skin. Signup and view all the answers

What is the nail body?

Visible portion of the nail that is attached to the underlying skin. Signup and view all the answers

What is the nail root?

Portion of the nail that is embedded in the skin. Signup and view all the answers

What are skin (nail) folds?

Create borders around the nail. Signup and view all the answers

What is the nail cuticle?

Proximal nail fold that projects onto the nail body. Signup and view all the answers

What is the nail matrix?

Nail structure that is proximal to the cuticle and is where cell growth takes place. Signup and view all the answers

What is a lunula?

White portion at the base of the nail. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Skin Appendages Overview

Skin appendages include sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair, and nails.

Sebaceous Glands

Oil-producing glands crucial for skin lubrication and hair health.
Function to prevent brittleness and inhibit bacterial growth.
Activation occurs during puberty.

Types of Sweat Glands

Eccrine Glands:
- Dispersed across the body, responsible for sweat production.
- Secretions exit through skin pores.
Apocrine Glands:
- Located in the genital area and armpits.
- Release secretions into hair follicles; contents include fatty acids and proteins that produce odor when interacting with bacteria.

Sweat Composition and Function

Sweat consists of water, salts, vitamin C, metabolic waste, and fatty acids (only from apocrine glands).
Functions to cool the body, excrete waste products, and its acidity helps control bacterial growth.

Hair Structure and Features

Hair is a keratin-based structure produced by hair follicles.
Hair Follicle: Generates new hair.
Hair Root: Embedded portion within the follicle.
Hair Shaft: Visible section of hair exterior to the scalp.
Growth Zone (Hair Bulb Matrix): Located in the follicle, responsible for hair cell production.
Arrector Pili Muscle: Smooth muscle that raises hair in response to cold or fright, leading to goosebumps.
Layers of Hair:
- Central Medulla: Inner layer of the hair shaft.
- Cortex: Surrounds the medulla.
- Cuticle: Outer layer of the hair shaft, heavily keratinized.

Nails Structure

Nails are keratinized modifications of the epidermis.
Free Edge: The unattached white portion extending from the finger or toe.
Nail Body: The visible part of the nail that adheres to the skin.
Nail Root: Embedded in the skin, forming the base of the nail.
Skin Folds (Nail Folds): Define the borders around each nail.
Nail Cuticle: The proximal fold that extends onto the nail body.
Nail Matrix: Area proximal to the cuticle where nail cells proliferate.
Lunula: The white crescent shape at the base of the nail, visible through the nail body.

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Description

Explore the intricate world of skin appendages, including sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair, and nails. Understand their functions, structures, and importance in maintaining skin health. This quiz delves into the types and roles of these appendages in the human body.