Skin anatomy and physiology

1. QUIZ
1. The main part or foundation of a word
2. The plane that separates the front from the back.
3. Tissues combine to form these
4. Suffix meaning inflammation
5. The transverse plane separates the _____ from the
________.

2. 6. Tonsillitis
7. Leukemia
8. Cephalgia
9. Dental
10.Postmortem

3. Integumentary System
MEDL 2350
March 3, 2003

4. What is the Integument?
• The INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM includes all the
structures and tissues related to the skin.
• This includes:
1. skin
a. Epidermis
b. Dermis
2. accessory organs
a. Hair
b. Nails
c. Glands

5. • The skin covers the entire body and
provides protection against injuries,
infection, and toxic compounds.
• The system contains many nerve endings
that act as RECEPTORS for pain,
temperature, touch, and pressure.

6. Anatomy of the Skin
• Upper layer of skin is called EPIDERMIS
EPI- means on top of
DERMIS means skin
• The lower layer of skin is called the
DERMIS.

7. The Epidermis
• Is multilayered.
• Contains is superficial layer of dead skin
cells called STRATUM CORNEUM.
• The stratum corneum is composed of cells
called KERATIN.
• Is AVASCULAR (no blood vessels)
• Has no nerve tissue (can’t feel pain)

8. The Dermis
• Has two distinct layers:
1. Papillary Layer (more superficial)
2. Reticular Layer (deeper)
• Accessory organs begin the dermis.
• Some of the accessory organs end or
cross into the epidermis.
• The dermis contains blood vessels and
nerve tissue.

9. Subcutaneous Fat and Superficial
Fascia
• The SubQ fat is found deep to the dermis.
• It contains the larger blood vessels of the
skin.
• It is composed of adipose (fat) tissue, a
form of connective tissue.
• Deep to the subQ layer is the fascial layer
that covers the muscles beneath.

10. Combining Forms
Adip/o
Lip/o
Steat/o
All mean FAT

11. Adip/osis
Lip/oid
Steat/oma
Abnormal condition of fat
Resembling fat
Tumor of fat

12. Cutane/o
Dermat/o
Derm/o
skin

13. Subcutaneous
Dermatology
hypodermic
Pertaining to under the skin
Study of the skin
Pertaining to under the
skin

14. Hidro/o sweat
Anhidrosis - abnormal condition of sweat
Kerat/o horny tissue
keratosis- - abnormal condition of hard tissue
Myc/o fungus
Onychomycosis – abnormal condition of fungal toenails

15. Onych/o
Onychomalacia
softenting of nails

16. Pil/o
Trich/o
Hair
A Pilonidal cyst
Is a cyst that pertains to a
nest of hair
Trichopathy
Is a disease of the hair

17. Xer/o
Means dry
xeroderma
means dry skin

18. derm / o / tome
An instrument to cut
skin

19. Remember, the dermis
contains the hair
follicles, sweat glands,
and sebaceous glands
(oil glands)

20. The term “diaphoresis” is meant to denote
excessive sweating.
The combining form for sweat is
hidr/o

21. Don’t get confused!!!
Hidr/o means sweat
Hydr/o means water

22. Hidrosis is an abnormal condition of sweat
that causes blistering and peeling of the
palms and soles.
Anhidrosis is an abnormal condition of
diminished or absent sweat.

23. A hidradenoma is a
tumor of the sweat
gland.

24. Recall, the dermis is
attached to the
underlying structures
of the skin by
subcutaneous tissue.
The subcutaneous
tissue forms
lip/o/cytes, or fat
cells.

25. A suction lipectomy is the
removal of the
subcutaneous fat tissue
using a blunt-tipped
cannula (tube) introduced
into the fatty area
through a small incision.
Suction is then applied
and fat tissue is removed.

26. Dermat/o/scler/osis
skin
hardening
Disease
Therefore, dermatosclerosis is literally translated as a disease
that results in the hardening of the skin. Also known as
scleroderma, this disease is an autoimmune disease that results
in scarring of the vital organs resulting in death.

27. • The oil secreting glands of the skin are
called the SEBACEOUS GLANDS.
• The sweat glands are known as
SUDORIFEROUS GLANDS.

28. Mycodermatitis
inflammation
skin
fungus
A mycodermatitis is an inflammatory
disease of the skin caused by a
fungus. A common example of this is
ATHLETE’S FOOT or TINEA PEDIS.

29. Test Yourself
Xerophagia
Tichomycosis
Adipocele
Dermatoplasty
Condition of eating only dry
foods
A fungal disease of the hair
A hernia of fat cells
Plastic surgery of the skin

30. More Combining Forms of Color
Cyan/o Blue
Erythr/o Red
Melan/o Black
Xanth/o Yellow
Leuk/o white

31. The pigment that causes skin coloration is
MELANIN
Melanosis is the abnormal condition of
black.
A melanoma is a tumor of black pigment.

32. A person with bluish discoloration of the skin
exhibits
Cyanosis or cyanoderma

33. • A BASAL CELL CARCINOMA is a type of skin
cancer that affects the basal skin layer of the
epidermis.
• A MELANOMA is characterized by asymmetry,
irregular borders, and lack of a uniform
coloration.
• A DECUBITUS ULCER is a bedsore that
penetrates both epidermis and dermis.
SOME DISEASE SPECIFICS

34. PSORIASIS is a chronic disease that is
characterized by red lesions covered by silvery
scales.
ABRASIONS are scrapes
ALOPECIA is an absence or loss of hair.
CONTUSION is a collection of dried blood beneath
the skin. Commonly called bruises.

35. CYSTs are closed sacs containing fluid or solid
material.
ECCHYMOSIS is discoloration of the skin due to a
bruise.
ECZEMA is an inflammatory skin disease with red,
itchy skin. Sometimes has associated blisters
(bullae)

36. FISSURE is a crack in the skin. Usually associated with dry,
scaly skin.
HIRSUTISM is a condition characterized by excessive hair
growth.
IMPETIGO is an inflammatory skin disease with isolated
pustules that rupture.
LACERATION is a tearing of the skin. Irregular borders.

37. MACULEs are flat, discolored lesions.
NODULEs are palpable lesions larger than a
macule. Usually between 1-2 cm
PAPULEs are solid elevated lesions