Chapter 4: Skin and Body Membranes Practice Flashcards

A set of practice flashcards covering the classification of body membranes, skin structure, appendages, and homeostatic imbalances based on the lecture transcript for anatomy and physiology lecture notes.

What are the two major categories of body membranes?

Epithelial and connective tissue membranes.

Which three types of membranes are classified as epithelial membranes?

Cutaneous, mucous, and serous membranes.

Where are mucous membranes located in the body?

They line all body cavities that open to the exterior, such as those of the hollow organs of the respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts.

What is the tissue makeup of the mucous membrane's lamina propria?

Loose (areolar) connective tissue.

How do serous membranes differ from mucous membranes in terms of body location?

Serous membranes line compartments in the ventral body cavity that are closed to the exterior, while mucous membranes line cavities open to the exterior.

What is the function of serous fluid?

It provides lubrication that allows organs to slide easily across cavity walls and one another without friction or pain.

What specific name is given to the serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity?

Peritoneum.

Where are synovial membranes found, and what is their tissue composition?

They line the fibrous capsules surrounding joints and are composed of loose areolar connective tissue containing no epithelial cells.

What are the two main layers that compose the cutaneous membrane (skin)?

The superficial epidermis and the underlying dermis.

What happens to epidermal cells as they move from the stratum basale toward the skin surface?

They move away from the source of nutrition (dermis), become flatter, increasingly keratinized, and eventually die.

In which skin regions is the stratum lucidum found?

Only where the skin is hairless and extra thick, such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

What are the spider-shaped cells that produce the pigment melanin?

Melanocytes.

Which layer of the dermis is responsible for the patterns that form fingerprints?

The papillary layer.

What are the functions of collagen and elastic fibers in the dermis?

Collagen fibers look for toughness and hydration; elastic fibers give the skin elasticity when young.

What medical condition is characterized by a blue appearance of the skin due to poorly oxygenated hemoglobin?

Cyanosis.

What is the function of the sebum produced by sebaceous glands?

It serves as a lubricant to keep skin soft and moist, prevents hair from becoming brittle, and contains chemicals that kill bacteria.

What is the difference between eccrine and apocrine sweat glands?

Eccrine glands are numerous, found all over the body, and regulate heat; apocrine glands are confined to axillary and genital areas and produce a secretion containing fatty acids and proteins.

What is the role of the arrector pili muscle?

It connects the hair follicle to dermal tissue and contracts to pull the hair upright, creating "goose bumps."

What method is used to estimate the volume of fluid lost in a burn patient by dividing the body into 11 areas?

The rule of nines.

How are third-degree burns distinguished from first- and second-degree burns?

Third-degree burns are full-thickness burns that destroy both the epidermis and dermis, appearing blanched or blackened, and are not painful because nerve endings are destroyed.

What are the components of the ABCDE rule for recognizing melanoma?

(A) Asymmetry, (B) Border irregularity, (C) Color, (D) Diameter (greater than $6\,mm$), and (E) Evolution.

What is the white, cheesy-looking substance that protects a newborn's skin in the womb?

Vernix caseosa.

What is the clinical term for hair thinning or baldness?

Alopecia.

Which skin cancer arises from the cells of the stratum spinosum and appears as a scaly, reddened papule?

Squamous cell carcinoma.