Integumentary, Receptors, Smell/Taste

Integumentary System

Consists of skin and its derivatives such as nails, hair, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands.

Epidermis

The outermost layer of skin composed of stratified squamous epithelium.

Dermis

The middle layer of skin composed of irregular dense connective tissue containing blood supply, nerves, and glands.

Subcutaneous layer

Layer below the dermis made of loose connective tissue and fat; contains major blood vessels.

Melanin

A pigment produced and stored in cells called melanocytes, responsible for skin pigmentation.

Friction ridges

Patterns found on fingers, palms, soles, and toes that help us grasp objects.

Sebaceous glands

Glands that produce oil (sebum) to moisten and waterproof the skin.

Sweat glands

Glands that produce a watery fluid to regulate body temperature.

Arrector pili

Muscles that cause hair to stand on end and produce goosebumps.

Thickness of skin

Thick skin is found on palms and soles; thin skin is found on areas like the back of the hand.

First degree burns

Burns that affect only the epidermis, causing redness and pain.

Second degree burns

Burns that affect the epidermis and part of the dermis, causing blisters.

Third degree burns

Burns that involve the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layer; often result in charred skin.

Skin cancer

The most common type of cancer, typically assessed using the ABCD rule.

Asymmetry (ABCD rule)

A characteristic of skin cancer where the two sides of a mole do not match.

Border irregularity (ABCD rule)

A characteristic of skin cancer where the borders of a mole are not smooth.

Color (ABCD rule)

A characteristic of skin cancer indicating different colors in a pigmented area.

Diameter (ABCD rule)

In skin cancer, a mole larger than 6 mm in diameter is considered a warning sign.

General senses

Sensations such as touch, temperature, vibration, pain, itch, and proprioception.

Special senses

Sensations such as gustation, olfaction, vision, equilibrium, and audition.

Meissner's corpuscles

Sensory receptors in hairless skin sensitive to light touch.

Pacinian corpuscles

Sensory receptors deep in the skin that respond to heavy pressure and vibrations.

Nociceptors

Pain receptors that respond to harmful stimuli.

Somatic pain

Shallow pain originating from the skin or near the surface of the body.

Visceral pain

Pain that comes from internal organs in the abdomen or chest.

Referred pain

Pain perceived in an area distant from the actual source.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, relying on receptors in the olfactory membrane.

Gustation

The sense of taste, reliant on taste buds located on the tongue.

Taste buds

Organs of taste associated with elevations on the tongue called papillae.

Salivary glands

Glands that produce saliva to dissolve chemicals for tasting.

Primary taste sensations

The five main tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami.

Umami

A taste sensation stimulated by compounds like glutamates, often described as 'meaty'.

Taste maps

Outdated concept suggesting different taste receptors are located on specific areas of the tongue.

Chemoreceptors

Receptors that detect chemicals, vital for smell and taste.

Olfactory nerve

Nerve responsible for transmitting smell signals from the nose to the brain.

Retronasal olfaction

The sense of smell experienced when eating; it involves odors from food reaching the nasal cavity.

Orthonasal olfaction

The sense of smell when directly inhaling odors from the environment.