| Question | Answer |
| The integumentary system is made up of: | 1. Skin.
2. Hair.
3. Nails.
4. Sebaceous glands (sebum - oil).
5. Cerumenous glands {cerumen (earwax)}.
6. Sudoriferous glands (sweat). |
| The skin: | 1. Is flexible.
2. Is waterproof.
3. Protects the body from ultraviolet (UV) light.
4. Protects the body from many chemicals and microbes.
5. Regulates body temperature (evaporation). |
| The outermost layer of skin is called the | epidermis. |
| The epidermis is composed of | epithelial cells. |
| Epithelial cells reproduce by | mitosis (30,000/day). |
| Newer epithelial cells push upward where they slowly | necrose (die). |
| This process is called | keratinization. |
| These keratinized cells are constantly being | sloughed |
| Skin sloughing (shedding) helps rid the body of | pathogens (disease producers). |
| The second layer of the skin is called the | dermis AKA corium. |
| The dermis (corium) consists of | connective tissue (collagenous + elastin fibers). |
| The function of collagen is to | bind skin cells together. |
| Embedded in the dermis (corium) are: | 1. Blood vessels.
2. Nerves.
3. Lymph vessels.
4. Hair follicles.
5. Sebaceous glands (sebum).
6. Sudoriferous glands (2-4 million sweat glands). |
| Sweat is released through ossa called | sudoriferous pores. |
| The next layer of the skin is called the | subcutaneous (subQ or subcu) AKA
hypodermis. |
| The subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis) consists mainly of | adipose tissue (fat). |
| The subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis) attaches the | dermis (corium) to the underlying muscles. |
| The fibrous connective tissue of the body is called | fascia |
| When skin is subjected to an excessive amount of abrasion or friction, a thickened area develops called a | callus (calluses). |
| Skin pigmentation (color) is genetically determined by the amount of | melanin produced. |
| A genetic mutation causing an absence of melanin production is called | albinism. |
| Dilation of the blood vessels in the dermis (corium) causes | erythroderma AKA
erythema AKA
rubeosis. |
| Causes of erythema include: | 1. Pyrexia (fever).
2. Hypertension (HTN).
3. Inflammation. 4. Blushing. |
| A bluish discoloration of the skin caused by hypoxia or hypothermia is called | cyanosis (cyanotic). |
| Excessive hemolysis of erythrocytes or hyperbilirubinemia causes a yellowish orangish discoloration to the skin and/or sclerae (white part of each eye) called | xanthoderma or
jaundice or icterus (kernicterus). |
| Hair is a characteristic of all | mammals. |
| On humans, hair can be found on the entire body except for the: | 1. Palms.
2. Soles.
3. Glans penis. |
| The average human produces | 7 miles of hair/year. |
| Each hair is composed of: | 1. A shaft.
2. A root.
3. A follicle. |
| A shaft is the | visible portion of the hair. |
| A root is found in the | epidermal tube. |
| A follicle is where | mitosis occurs. |
| Attached to each hair follicle is an arrector pili muscle which causes the hair shaft to | “stand on its end” causing a
“goose flesh” appearance when we get scared or cold. |
| Genetics will control: | 1. Hair color.
2. Hair texture.
3. Hair loss (alopecia). |
| The visible part of a nail is called a | nail body. |
| The part of a nail that grows is called a | nail bed. |
| The base of a nail is covered by tissue called a | cuticle AKA
eponychium. |
| onychocryptosis | an abnormal condition of an ingrown (hidden) nail |
| onychomycosis | an abnormal condition of a nail(s) caused by fungus |
| paronychia | a condition of inflammation adjacent to a nail |
| cicatrix (cicatrices) | scar(s) |
| keloid | an exaggerated or hypertrophied scar |
| Keloids are associated with | surgery and 3rd degree burns. |
| ulcer | an erosion (wearing away) of the skin or mucous membrane |
| Decubitus ulcer is AKA | bedsore or
pressure sore (ulcer). |
| Decubitus ulcers commonly occur on bony prominences (pressure points) such as: | 1. Coccyx (tailbone).
2. Calcanei (heel bones).
3. Olecranons (Holy Crayon) {elbows}.
4. Scapulae (shoulder bone).
5. Occipital bone (posterior base of the cranium {skull}).
6. Pelvis (ilia and ischia). |
| Ecchymosis (ecchymotic) | black + blue mark caused by bleeding under the skin AKA
hematoma or
contusion or
bruise |
| edema (edematous) | tissue swelling caused by an accumulation of fluid |
| pitting edema | fluid accumulation where indentations occur after light palpation |
| eschar(otic) | necrotic tissue caused by a burn |
| macule (macular) | flat usually erythematous skin lesion |
| papule (papular) | a raised skin lesion < 1cm |
| nodule (nodular) | a raised skin lesion > 1cm |
| nevus (nevi) | mole(s) or birthmark(s) |
| petechia(e) | pinpoint skin hemorrhage(s) |
| purpura (happy cat) | a combination of ecchymosis and petechiae |
| pustule (pustular) | a papule filled with pus |
| abscess (abscesses) | a collection of pus |
| verruca(e) | wart(s) |
| pallor | paleness |
| vesicle | a raised lesion filled with a clear liquid AKA a
blister or
bulla (> 1cm) or bleb (< 1 cm) |
| abrasion | mechanical superficial damage to the skin AKA
“scrape” |
| excoriation | chemical superficial damage to the skin such as
“diaper rash” |
| cellulitis (dermatitis) | inflammation of skin cells |
| urticaria | hives AKA
wheals |
| Urticaria | an indication of an
allergic reaction. |
| cyst | a thickening or lump |
| furuncle | an infection of a hair follicle and adjacent tissue AKA a
boil |
| carbuncle (car load) | a cluster of furuncles |
| gangrene (gangrenous) | putrefaction (rot) caused by tissue necrosis and microbial proliferation |
| laceration | tissue that is cut, torn, or ripped |
| avulsion | tearing any part of the body away from the whole |
| xeroderma | dry skin |
| ichthyosis | dry scaly skin |
| crustation(s) | scab(s) |
| vitiligo (Michael Jackson) | localized loss of skin pigmentation characterized by milk-white patches |
