structure + function of the skin

functions of the skin

prevent body fluids from leaving the body

skin protects the body from

- potentially damaging environmental agents

- break in skin opportunity for infections to invade

skin serve as area for

heat exchange

skin provides protection against

invading microorganisms

macule

- circumscribed

- flat

- non palpable

- discolored spor

- sharp borders

- < 1 cm

- small like freckle

patch

- circumscribed

- flat

- non palpable

- discolored spor

- sharp borders

- > 1 cm

- large

- vitiligo

papule

- raised

- < 5 mm

- solid elevations w/o fluid w sharp borders

- < 1 cm

- ex elevated mole, wart

plaque

- larger than papule

- > 1 cm

nodules

- palpable

- solid

- elevated mass

- involving epidermis w distinct borders

- <2cm (wart)

cyst

- sac containing fluid or semisolid material

- myxoid or mucus cyst

pustule

papule containing pus

tumor

- would be able to feel it move

- extending deep into the dermis

- > 1 cm

- lipoma (fat tumor most fat tumor benign)

bulla

- large filled bubble

- superficial or deep

- > 5mm

- can see when sunburn or burns

vesicle

- small fluid filled bubble

- < 5 mm

- chicken pox

- above surface fluid filled

wheal

- serous fluid movement to dermis

- does not contain free fluid as in vesicles

- mosquito bite

- tb test

scar

A mark on the skin that is left after a cut or other wound has healed.

keloid

- darker skin more prone

- scars that are raised

- overgrows the original wound boundaries

scale

- shed skin

- small think flake of keratinized epithelium

- psoriasis

- lupus lesion

crust

- dried residue of serum, blood, or pus on skin surface

- picking exposes to infection

fissure

- linear crack in skin that may extend to dermis

- can happen w severe dryness

- potential area for infections to seep in

erosion

- loss of superficial epidermis

- depressed moist area

lichenification

- thickening and roughening from repeated rubbing, irritation, scratching

- does this area get a lot of friction?

ulcer

- loss past epidermis

- necrotic loss

- bleeding + scarring possible

- can become deeper past dermis

Petichiae

- result of bleeding

- if push down doesn't disappear

- describes red blood cells that are outside the vessel walls + areas are nonblanchable

hematoma

- blood tumor

- a collection of blood outside blood vessels

ecchymoses

- redness

- bruise, contusion

- ruptured, blood vessel

purpura

- larger version of petechiae

- discoloration of skin due to blood in tissue

Xerosis (dry skin)

- dehydration of stratum corneum

- aging skin will be dry due to change in the composition of sebaceous gland secretions + dec in secretion of moisture from sweat glands

dark skin produces

melanin more quickly than light skin

dark skin persons better protected against

- skin cancer

- premature wrinkling

- aging of the skin that occurs with sun exposure

some skin disorders such as hypo or hyperpigmentation

affect dark skinned people more than light skinned people

primary

- macule

- patch

- papule

- plaque

- nodules

- cyst

- pustule

- tumor

- bulla

- vesicle

- wheal

secondary

- scar

- keloid

- scale

- crust

- fissure

- erosion

- lichenification

- ulcer

vascular

- petichiae

- hematoma

- ecchymoses

- purpura