Integumentary System Study Guide

Matching, identify, MC

What is the function of the skin?

What is the function of the skin?

• Maintains homeostasis by

  • Regulating temperature

  • Protecting underlying tissues

  • Slowing water loss

  • Housing sensory receptors

  • Synthesizing certain chemicals

  • Excreting wastes

What are the 2 layers of skin?

Epidermis & dermis

What is the subcutaneous layer?

A layer of adpiose tissue beneath the epidermis & dermis

What does the subcutaneous layer contain?

Made of fat, or adipose tissue

Nails consist of what type of cells?

Stratified squamous epithelial cells

What are the structures within the dermis?

• Made of connective tissues

• Papillary layer

  • Dermal papillae

  • Meissner’s corpuscle

  • Capillary net

  • Free-nerve endings

  • Dermal ridges

• Reticular layer

  • Arrector pili muscle

  • Hair follicle

  • Sebaceous gland

  • Pacinian corpuscle

  • Sudoriferous gland

Dermal papillae

Zippers together the dermis & epidermis

Meissner’s corpuscle

Sensory receptors that sense light touch

Capillary net

Delivers blood to & from the top of the dermis

Free-nerve endings

Sensory receptors that sense pain, heat, & cold

Dermal ridges

Large mound of dermal papillae in the hands & feet

Arrector pili muscle

Contracts to cause a hair to raise on end

Hair follicle

Where a hair grows from

Sebaceous gland

Oil glands

Pacinian corpuscle

Sensory receptors that sense heavy pressure

Sudoriferous gland

Sweat glands

What are the layers of the epidermis?

• Stratum

  • Corneum

  • Lucidum

  • Granulosum

  • Spinosum

  • Basale

What are the characteristics of each layer of the epidermis?

• Made of epithelial tissues

• Stratum corneum - most superficial layer; made of 20 to 30 layers of dead squamous cells; constantly shedding

• Stratum lucidum - very thin; only found in thick skin; found in palms or soles; dead

• Stratum granulosum - living cells

• Stratum spinosum - living cells

• Stratum basale - living cells; mitotic; deepest layer; pushing the more superficial layers up & causing them to shed off

Where are all of these structures located?

• Epidermis

• Free-nerve endings

• Capillary net

• Arrector pili muscle

• Dermal papillae

• Meissner’s corpuscles

• Sudoriferous gland

• Pacinian corpuscle

• Vein

• Artery

• Hair follicle

• Adipose tissue

• Hypodermis

• Reticular layer of the dermis

• Sebaceous glands

• Papillary layer of the dermis

• Epidermis

• Free-nerve endings

• Capillary net

• Arrector pili muscle

• Dermal papillae

• Meissner’s corpuscles

• Sudoriferous gland

• Pacinian corpuscle

• Vein

• Artery

• Hair follicle

• Adipose tissue

• Hypodermis

• Reticular layer of the dermis

• Sebaceous glands

• Papillary layer of the dermis

What does the body do to regulate temperature?

• In response to increased body temperature, the skin can cool the body down by sweating or dilating blood vessels located in the dermis. The dilated vessels allow heat to be released & make you turn red when warm.

• In response to lowered body temperature, the blood vessels constrict, preventing heat loss. Tiny muscles in the dermis can also pull hair upright in an attempt to trap heat near the skin surface, causing goosebumps. Free-nerve endings can activate muscles to shiver, generating heat.

What happens when there is inflammation of the skin?

• Blood vessels dilate & become more permeable, causing tissues to become red & swollen.

• Superficial cuts are filled in by reproducing epithelial cells.

• Deeper cuts are closed off by clots, covered by scabs, & eventually filled in by fibroblasts, making connective tissue. Blood vessels extend into the area, injured tissues are replaced, & the scab falls off.

• Large wounds leave scars, & healing may be accompanied by the formation of granulations.

Be able to describe the degrees of burns.

• 1st degree burns can usually be treated at home with cool water & aloe. The epidermis is the only level affected, & the wound is considered superficial. The skin becomes pink but doesn’t blister or scar, & no underlying tissues are damaged.

• In 2nd degree burns, both the dermis & the epidermis are damaged. Skin will appear swollen, red, & shiny, or wet. Blisters will usually form on a 2nd degree burn.

• 3rd degree burns affect every layer of the skin, often completely destroying the epidermis & dermis. Often, these burns don’t hurt because the underlying nerve tissue has been destroyed as well. Skin will appear white, charred, & leathery.

What is used to assess burn patients?

The Rule of 9’s

What are the long-term effects of burn victims?

• Contracture

• Inability to sweat

• Dry or even cracked skin

• Discoloration

• Sensation changes