1

Chapter 5 Assignment

Student

Institution

Course

Instructor

Due Date
 2

Chapter 5 Assignment

Define, identify, or describe the following terms:

Keratinocyte: Keratinocytes are the most cells in the epidermis of the skin. They produce a

tough protein called keratin, which provides structural strength to the skin, hair, and nails.

Melanocytes: Melanocytes are specific cells found in the epidermis. They produce a pigment

named melanin, responsible for skin, hair, and eyes color.

Melanin: Melanin is a pigment produced by melanocytes in the skin, hair, and eyes. It

determines the color of these structures and helps guard the skin from the harmful UV radiation

effects.

Keratin: Keratin is a tough protein produced by keratinocytes. It forms the structural component

of the epidermis, providing strength and protection.

Langerhans cells: Langerhans cells are specialized immune cells found in the epidermis.

Basal cells: Basal cells are found in the innermost layer of the epidermis, known as the basal

layer. They are responsible for continuously producing new keratinocytes that migrate to the

outer layers of the epidermis.

Epidermal ridges: Epidermal ridges are raised areas found on the skin's surface. They

contribute to increased grip and friction and enhance tactile sensitivity.

Dermal papilla: These are small, nipple-like projections found in the outer layer of skin below

the epidermis. They contain blood vessels that carry nutrients to the epidermis cells and regulate

hair growth.

Merkel cells: Tactile cells are specialized cells in the skin's epidermal layer. They are associated

with nerve endings and play a role in tactile sensation, allowing the detection of light touch and

shapes.
 3

Carotene: Carotene is a pigment in certain fruits and vegetables, particularly orange or yellow.

In the skin, carotene can impart a slightly yellowish hue. It is a precursor for synthesizing

vitamin A in the body.

Cyanosis is a bluish skin, lips, and nail bed discoloration. It occurs when there is an insufficient

amount of oxygenated blood reaching the tissues. It can indicate underlying respiratory or

circulatory problems.

Dermal circulation: Dermal circulation refers to the network of blood vessels present in the

dermis. They supply oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells and help control body temperature by

controlling blood flow to the skin's surface.

Basal cell carcinoma: This is the most common type of skin cancer and originates in the

epidermis's basal cells, and basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer.

Malignant melanomas are a type of skin cancer that develops from melanocytes, the pigment-

producing skin cells. Melanomas are more aggressive and can metastasize to other body parts if

not detected and treated early. They often appear asymmetrical moles or pigmented patches with

irregular borders and various colors.

Contusion: This is a localized injury to the skin and underlying tissues caused by blunt force

trauma or injury.

Tactile corpuscles: Tactile corpuscles, also known as Meissner's corpuscles, are sensory

receptors found in the dermal papillae of the skin, particularly in areas with heightened tactile

sensitivity, such as the fingertips, lips, and nipples.

Lamellated corpuscles: Lamellated corpuscles, also called Pacinian corpuscles, are sensory

receptors found in the deep layers of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue.
 4

Sebaceous glands: These are small glands in the dermis linked to hair follicles. They produce an

oily sebum that lubricates the skin and hair, preventing dryness and maintaining suppleness.

Sweat glands: These are distributed throughout the body and produce sweat. Sweat helps control

body temperature by evaporating from the skin's surface, cooling the body.

Merocrine gland: Merocrine glands, also called eccrine glands, are sweat glands that secrete

sweat directly onto the skin's surface. They are responsible for thermoregulation, helping to cool

the body through evaporation.

Apocrine gland: Apocrine glands are sweat glands mainly found in the armpits and groin. They

produce a thicker sweat with proteins and lipids, which bacteria on the skin break down,

resulting in body odor.

Sebum: This is an oily material produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It consists of fats,

cholesterol, proteins, and cellular debrisSebum is an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous

glands in the skin surface.

Sensible perspiration: Sensible perspiration refers to the visible and perceptible sweating that

occurs when the body produces sweat in response to heat, exercise, or emotional stress.

Insensible perspiration: Insensible perspiration refers to the continuous, imperceptible water

vapor loss from the skin's surface. It occurs due to normal skin functions and is not usually

noticeable.

Mammary glands: These are specialized sweat glands found in the breasts. In females, they

produce and secrete milk for nourishing newborns.

Ceruminous glands: These are modified sweat glands in the external ear canal. They produce

cerumen, commonly known as earwax.

 5

Cerumen is a waxy substance secreted by ceruminous glands in the ear canal.

Callus: A callus is a thickened and hardened skin area that develops in response to repeated

pressure, friction, or irritation. It typically occurs on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or

other areas exposed to repetitive stress.

(Martini et al., 2017).

Short Answer and Discussion

Two components of the cutaneous membrane are the epidermis and the dermis (Martini et al.,

2017).

The Functions of The Skin

Protection: The skin is a physical barrier, protecting underlying tissues from mechanical

impacts, harmful microorganisms, and UV radiation.

Regulation of body temperature: The skin helps regulate body temperature through sweating

and dilation or constriction of blood vessels.

Sensation: The skin has sensory receptors that detect stimuli such as touch, pressure,

temperature, and pain.

Vitamin D synthesis: When exposed to UV radiation, the skin produces vitamin D important for

calcium intake and bone health (Martini et al., 2017).

Excretion: The skin eliminates certain metabolic wastes, such as small amounts of water, salts,

and urea, through sweat glands (Martini et al., 2017).

The subcutaneous layer, the hypodermis, is found beneath the dermis. It has loose connective

tissue and underlying tissue. The subcutaneous layer helps attach the skin to underlying

structures, acts as an insulator, and provides cushioning and energy storage (Martini et al., 2017).
 6

Thick skin and thin skin differ in the thickness of the epidermis. Thick skin is on the palms of the

hands and soles of the feet, where the epidermis has a thicker stratum corneum. It lacks hair

follicles and sebaceous glands. Thin skin is found in other body areas, with a thinner stratum

corneum, and contains hair follicles and sebaceous glands (Martini et al., 2017).

The strata of the epidermis, from deep to superficial, are:

Stratum basale (basal layer): Composed of rapidly dividing basal cells and also contains

melanocytes and Merkel cells.

Stratum spinosum Has several layers of keratinocytes connected by desmosomes.

Stratum granulosum: Contains keratinocytes that are undergoing keratinization and producing

keratohyalin granules.

Stratum lucidum (clear layer): Present only in thick skin, it consists of a few rows of clear,

flattened, and densely packed keratinocytes.

Stratum corneum (horny layer): The outermost layer comprises layers of dead, keratinized

cells that provide protection and prevent water loss.

Vitamin D increases calcium absorption in the intestines.

The ABCD rule is used to detect skin cancer:

A: Asymmetry - If one half of a mole or pigmented spot does not equal the other half.

B: Border irregularity - Uneven, scalloped, or poorly defined borders.

C: Color - Presence of varied colors within a mole or spot, such as different shades of brown,

black, or red.

D: Diameter - The spot is greater than 6 millimeters in diameter or has shown an increase in size

(Martini et al., 2017).

 7

The two dermis layers are the papillary layer, the superficial layer of loose connective tissue, and

the reticular layer, the deeper and thicker layer of dense irregular connective tissue (Martini et

al., 2017).

The cutaneous plexus of vessels refers to the network of blood vessels in the dermis, supplying

nutrients and oxygen to the skin. The deep reticular plexus is a net of blood vessels located in the

subcutaneous layer, providing blood flow to the deeper tissues of the skin, including the adipose

tissue and muscles (Martini et al., 2017).

The accessory structures of the skin;

Hair: Hair follicles in the dermis produce hair strands that protrude from the skin's surface.

Nails: Nails are made of hardened keratin derived from specialized epithelial cells.

Sebaceous glands produce sebum, an oily substance that lubricates the skin and hair.

Sweat glands produce sweat, which helps regulate body temperature and eliminate waste

products.

Ceruminous glands: Ceruminous glands produce cerumen, called earwax, in the ear canal.

Mammary glands: Mammary glands are specialized sweat glands in the breasts that produce

milk for nourishing infants (Martini et al., 2017).

The hair shaft is the visible part of the hair spreading above the skin's surface, while the hair root

is part of the hair located beneath the skin's surface within the hair follicle (Martini et al., 2017).

The two kinds of exocrine glands in the skin are merocrine glands and apocrine glands.

Merocrine glands, also known as eccrine glands, are the most numerous sweat glands. They

secrete sweat directly onto the skin's surface and regulate temperature.
 8

Apocrine glands are found mainly in the axillary and pubic regions. They produce thicker sweat

that contains proteins and lipids. Apocrine sweat glands become active during puberty and are

associated with body odor (Martini et al., 2017).

First-degree burns touch only the epidermis. They result in redness, pain, and mild swelling.

Second-degree burns extend through the epidermis and into the dermis. They cause redness,

pain, swelling, and the formation of blisters.

Third-degree burns, or full-thickness, extend through the entire skin thickness. They destroy the

epidermis and dermis and can even affect deeper tissues. Third-degree burns result in white or

blackened skin and numbness and require medical attention for treatment (Martini et al., 2017).
 9

References

Martini, F. H., Nath, J. L., Bartholomew, E. F., Ober, W. C., & Petti, K. M. (2017).

Fundamentals of anatomy & physiology. Pearson.