BIO201 - Skin Anatomy Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards identifying key skin structures, epidermal layers, hair anatomy, skin glands, and nerve receptors from the BIO201 lecture materials.

BIO201-Skin Diagram

An anatomical cross-section model of human skin showing the epidermal layers, dermis structures, hypodermis, hair follicle anatomy, glands, and sensory nerve receptors.

Epidermis

The outer layer of the skin composed of distinct strata including the stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum, and stratum basale.

Stratum corneum

The most superficial layer of the epidermis.

Stratum lucidum

The epidermal layer situated directly below the stratum corneum and above the stratum granulosum.

Stratum granulosum

The layer of the epidermis located between the stratum lucidum and the stratum spinosum.

Stratum spinosum

The epidermal layer positioned between the stratum granulosum and the stratum basale.

Stratum basale

The deepest layer of the epidermis, adjacent to the dermal papillae.

Hypodermis

The lowermost layer of the skin structure beneath the dermis, containing subcutaneous adipose tissue and sweat glands.

Dermal papilla

A finger-like projection of the dermal layer extending upward into the epidermis.

Hair Follicle

The tubular structure in the skin that anchors and encloses the root of a hair.

Hair shaft

The portion of a hair that extends beyond the outer surface of the skin.

Hair Root

The portion of a hair embedded beneath the surface of the skin within the hair follicle.

Hair Papilla

A peg-like vascular structure at the base of the hair root that provides nourishment to the hair.

Medulla

The innermost core region of a hair shaft or root.

Cortex

The intermediate layer of hair surrounding the central medulla.

Sebaceous gland

An exocrine gland attached to the hair follicle that secretes sebum.

Piloerector muscle

A bundle of smooth muscle attached to the hair follicle that contracts to pull the hair upright (also known as the arrector pili muscle).

Sweat gland

A coiled tubular exocrine gland in the skin that produces sweat.

Sweat gland duct

The duct that transports sweat from the sweat gland to the epidermal surface pore.

Lamellar corpuscle

A sensory nerve receptor located in the deeper dermal and hypodermal layers (also known as a Pacinian corpuscle).

Tactile corpuscles

Sensory receptors located in the upper dermal region beneath the epidermis that detect light touch.

Free nerve ending

Unspecialized sensory nerve terminals extending near the upper dermis and epidermis.

Hair receptor

Nerve fibers wrapped around the base of a hair follicle that detect movement of the hair shaft.