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Learning Objective
Topic : Skin as an organ of protection
Duration : 50 minutes
Lesson Objectives : Students should be able to
1.Identify the structure of the epidermis as a physical permeable
barrier.
2.Know the functions of the epidermal and dermal layers in skin
protection.
3. Melanin and ultraviolet radiation
4.Know the neurologic pathway of skin sensation.
5.Understand the pathophysiology and clinical aspects of itch
6.Recognize the pathologic skin barriers in dermatoses
7.Treatment implications and approaches: restoring the skin’s
protective function
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NOTE
Vitamin D is made in the dermis of the skin, after exposure to sunlight. It’s function
is to allow calcium to be absorbed from the foods you eat so your blood calcium
levels are normal.
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The Skin and the Hypodermis
Skin – our largest organ
–Accounts for 7% of body weight…it weighs twice as much as your brain!
–Divided into three distinct layers
•Epidermis (‘epi” means above something)
•Dermis
•Hypodermis (“hypo” means deep to something)
Merkel (tactile) disc
Nociceptor (type I cutaneous
mechanoreceptor) Remember,
(pain receptor)
the term
Meissner corpuscle “SKIN” refers
Epidermis
(corpuscle of touch) to all three
layers:
Ruffini corpuscle epidermis,
(type II cutaneous dermis, and
Dermis mechanoreceptor hypodermis.
Hair root plexus
Subcutaneous Pacinian
layer (lamellated)
corpuscle
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•Keratinocytes (90%)- waterproofs & protects skin, nails, hair, stratum corneum
•Melanocytes (8%)- produce melanin
•Merkel Cells- slow mechanoreceptors
•Langerhans’ Cells- immunological defense
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Layers of the Epidermis
The epidermis contains four major layers (thin skin) or
five major layers (thick skin)
• Stratum corneum (most superficial layer of epidermis)
• Stratum lucidum (only in thick skin)
• Stratum granulosum
• Stratum spinosum
• Stratum basale (the deepest layer of epidermis)
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1. Stratum corneum:
composed of many sublayers ( multi layer tissue ) of flat, dead
keratinocytes ( flattened, anucleate) called corneocytes or squames
Embedded in an intercellular lipid matrix
The primary barrier against pathogen entry
Regulation of water loss from body
Withstand physical force --> Protects skin against abrasion
continuously shed and replaced by cells from deeper strata;
constant friction can stimulate formation of a callus.
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Surrounded by multiple planar lamellae sheets, enriched in ceramides,
cholesterol, and free fatty acids (FFA)((brick & Mortar model)
Ceramides:
important lipid component for the lamellar arrangement of the stratum
corneum.
composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids (the omega-6 linoleic acid
contained in sunflower oil) and sphingosines..
highly hydrophobic lipids inhibits the outward movement of water .
SC desomosomes structures composed primarily of glycoproteins,
The desomosomes joining corneocytes called corneodesmosine,
SC desmosomes are sometimes referred to as corneodesmosomes
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9 Epidermis
2. Stratum lucidum is present only in thick skin (the skin of the fingertips, palms, and
soles) Composed of a few rows of flat, dead keratinocytes.This THIN layer provides
protection from UV radiation.
3. Stratum granulosum, Consists of keratinocytes and tonofilaments
- Tonofilaments contain
• Keratohyaline granules – help form keratin
• Lamellated granules – contain a waterproofing glycolipid
4. Stratum spinosum, (spiny layer) 8-10 layers of keratinocytes.
"Spiny" appearance caused by artifacts of histological preparation Contains thick
bundles of intermediate filaments (tonofilaments) Contains star-shaped Langerhans cells
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10 Epidermis
5. Stratum basale (deepest layer) or stratum germinativum,
Deepest layer of epidermis
• Attached to underlying dermis
• Cells actively divide . where continuous cell division occurs which
produces all the other layers
• Stratum basale contains
Merkel cells – associated with sensory nerve ending
Melanocytes – secrete the pigment melanin
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Melanocytes
Melanocytes produce melanin by the oxidation
of the amino acid tyrosine, followed by
/ tyrosinase
polymerization. L Dehydroxy
Phenylalanin
/tyrosinase
In the skin,
melanogenesis
occurs after
exposure to UV tyrosinase-related
radiation, protein 2
tyrosinase-related
protein 1
5,6-dihydroxyindole-2- 5,6-dihydroxyindole
There are three basic types of carboxylic acid (DHICA) (DHI)
melanin: eumelanin, pheomelanin, polymers.
and neuromelanin.
The most common is eumelanin,
Melanocytes
2 or lower means low danger from the sun's UV rays for the average person.
3–5 means moderate risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.
6–7 means high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Apply a sunscreen with
a SPF of at least 15. Wear a wide-brim hat and sunglasses to protect the eyes.
8–10 means very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Minimize sun exposure during
midday hours, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Protect skin by liberally applying a sunscreen with an SPF of at least
15. Wear protective clothing and sunglasses to protect the eyes.
11 or higher means extreme risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Try to avoid sun exposure
during midday hours, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 liberally every
two hours.
Ultraviolet
UVA has the ability to penetrate through the epidermis, dermis and enter
the hypodermis.
UVB penetrates completely through the epidermis and slightly into the
dermis.
UV exposure may damage skin cells, leading to DNA defects in which
adjacent thymine bases become covalently linked, creating thymine dimers.
Thymine dimers have the potential to cause buckling in the strand and
create misreading during DNA replication.
Protection of the skin from ultraviolet light via the pigment system, Melanocytes
are the pigment-producing cells producing pigment granules called melanosomes containing
melanin a dark pigment that provides skin color.
Skin barrier and pH. The acidic pH of the horny layer is called the ‘acid mantle’ of the
stratum corneum, and is important for both cutaneous antimicrobial defence and the formation
of a barrier against permeability. Normal pH on the surface of adult skin is in the range of 5.4 to
5.9, due to the components of the stratum corneum, sebum and sweat secretion.
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The Dermis
The dermis has several important characteristics:
Composed of connective tissue containing collagen and elastic fibers
The structure provides strength, extensibility (the ability to be stretched),
and elasticity (the ability to return to its original form).
It is in the dermis where we find capillaries and many nerve endings.
(Major blood vessels are found in the hypodermis.)
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The Dermis
The dermis Contains two layers
The thin outer papillary region consists of :
- Areolar connective tissue containing thin
collagen and elastic fibers,
- Dermal papillae (including capillary loops), papillary
dermis
- Corpuscles of touch and free nerve
endings
reticular
The deeper thick reticular region dermis
consists of
- Dense irregular connective tissue
containing collagen and elastic fibers
adipose cells,
- Hair follicles, nerves,
- Sebaceous (oil) glands, and
sudoriferous (sweat) glands
Striae or stretch marks can appear if the skin is stretched
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Dermis
• Somatic receptor in dermis is Divided into
two groups
– Free or Unencapsulated nerve endings
– Encapsulated nerve endings - consist of
one or more neural end fibers enclosed in
connective tissue
• Pacinian Corpuscle: nerve
receptors in the dermis for
vibration and pressure
• Meissner's Corpuscle: nerve
receptors in the dermis for light
touch
• Ruffini’s corpuscles Located
in the dermis and respond to
pressure Monitor continuous
pressure on the skin – adapt
slowly
• Subcutaneous (subQ) layer (also called hypodermis) is not part of the skin but,
• among its functions, it attaches the skin to the underlying tissues and organs;
• this layer (and sometimes the dermis) contains lamellated (pacinian) corpuscles
which detect external pressure applied to the skin.
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Sweat Glands
• Eccrine (merocrine) glands- sweat, The watery fluid they secrete contains
chloride, lactic acid, fatty acids, urea, glycoproteins and mucopolysaccharides.
• Apocrine glands- axillary & anogenital areas. the ducts of which empty out
into the hair follicles.
• Ceruminous glands- ears canal
• Mammary glands- female reproductive glands
Sweat
glands
Ceruminous
glands
Hair root
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Nail
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Somatic Senses
• General somatic – include touch, pain,
vibration, pressure, temperature
• Proprioceptive – detect stretch in
tendons and muscle provide information
on body position, orientation and
movement of body in space
Stimulus type
• Mechanoreceptors- deformed by force
– Touch, pressure (BP), vibration, stretch, itch
• Thermoreceptors- changes in temperature
• Photoreceptors- light energy
• Chemoreceptors- chemicals in solution
– Smell, taste, blood chemistry
• Nociceptors- pain
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27 Somatic Receptors
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28 Free Nerve Endings
• Abundant in epithelia and underlying connective tissue
- The simplest of our sensory receptors ;Branching tips of dendrites
- Not protected by accessory structures ; Can be stimulated by many different stimuli
• Nociceptors - respond to pain
• Thermoreceptors - respond to temperature
• Two specialized types of free nerve endings
– Merkel discs – lie in the epidermis, slowly adapting receptors for light touch
– Hair follicle receptors – Rapidly adapting receptors that wrap around hair follicles
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29 Encapsulated Nerve Endings
–Meissner’s corpuscles
•Spiraling nerve ending surrounded by Schwann cells
•Occur in the dermal papillae of hairless areas of the skin
•Rapidly adapting receptors for discriminative touch
–Pacinian corpuscles
•Single nerve ending surrounded by layers of flattened Schwann cells
•Occur in the hypodermis
•Sensitive to deep pressure – rapidly adapting receptors
–Ruffini’s corpuscles
•Located in the dermis and respond to pressure
•Monitor continuous pressure on the skin – adapt slowly
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30 Encapsulated Nerve Endings - Proprioceptors
• Monitor stretch in locomotory organs
•Three types of proprioceptors
–Muscle spindles – monitors the changing length of a muscle, imbedded in the perimysium
between muscle fascicles
–Golgi tendon organs – located near the muscle-tendon junction, monitor tension within
tendons
–Joint kinesthetic receptors - sensory nerve endings within the joint capsules, sense pressure
and position
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An Overview of Neural Integration
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32 Processing at the circuit level
• First order neurons (cell bodies in DRG or cranial nuclei)
– Conduct impulses from receptors/proprioceptors to the cord or brain stem to synapse w/
2nd order neurons (Sensory neurons that deliver sensory information to the CNS), enters
spinal cord from periphery
• Second order neurons (cell bodies in dorsal horn of cord or medullary nuclei)
– Transmit impulses to the thalamus or cerebellum where they synapse (First order neurons
synapse on these in the brain or spinal cord); crosses over (decussates), ascends in spinal
cord to thalamus
• Third order neurons (none found in the cerebellum)
– Located in the thalamus & conduct impulses to the somatosensory cortex of the cerebrum
(Second order neurons synapse on these); projects to somatosensory cortex
• Only 1% of incoming sensory impulses actually reach the cerebrum
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Central Pathways
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Figure 15–5a 35
36 Dorsal/Posterior column damage
dorsal
column Left
pathway spinal cord
• Sensory ataxia
injury • Patient staggers;
cannot perceive
position or
movement of legs
• Visual clues help
movement
dorsal
cloumn
pathway
Loss of sense of:
•touch
•proprioception
•vibration in left leg
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37 The Anterolateral (Spinothalamicus ) Pathway
• Provides sensations of “crude” touch,
pressure, pain, and temperature
• Ascend within the anterior or lateral
spinothalamic tracts:
– The anterior spinothalamic tracts
carry crude touch and pressure
sensations
MESENCEPHALON
– The lateral spinothalamic tracts
carry pain and temperature
sensations
MEDULA OBLONGATA
SPINAL CHORD
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Spinothalamic pathway
• Carries pain, temperature, touch and
pressure signals
• 1st neuron enters spinal cord through dorsal
root; first-order neurons from one side of
body synapse with dendrites and cell bodies
of second-order neurons in posterior gray
horn on same side of body.
• 2nd neuron crosses over in spinal cord;
ascends to thalamus; neurons decussate,
enter spinothalamic tract on opposite side,
and extend to thalamus.
• 3rd neuron projects from thalamus to
somatosensory cortex; neurons transmit
nerve impulses from thalamus to primary
somatosensory cortex on side opposite the
site of stimulation.
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Spinothalamic damage
Left
spinothalamic pathway spinal cord injury
spinothalamic
pathway
• An individual can feel pain in uninjured part of body when pain actually
originates at another location
• Sensations arriving at segment of spinal cord can stimulate
interneurons that are part of anterolateral pathway
• Activity in interneurons leads to stimulation of primary sensory cortex,
so an individual feels pain in specific part of body surface:
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The Spinocerebellar Pathway
• Cerebellum receives proprioceptive information about
position of skeletal muscles, tendons, and joints
• Carries unconscious proprioception signals
• Receptors in muscles & joints
• 1st neuron: enters spinal cord through dorsal root
• 2nd neuron: ascends to cerebellum
• No 3rd neuron to cortex, hence unconscious
Figure 15–7 41
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Spinocerebellar tract damage
• Cerebellar ataxia
• Clumsy movements
• Incoordination of the limbs (intention tremor)
• Wide-based, reeling gait (ataxia)
• Alcoholic intoxication produces similar effects!
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Somatosensory cortex
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45 3 classic phases:
• Inflammatory phase : A clot forms and cells of inflammation debride injured
tissue
• Proliferative phase : Occur Epithelialization, fibroplasia, and angiogenesis ;
additionally, granulation tissue forms and the wound begins to contract.
• Maturation phase : Collagen forms tight cross-links to other collagen and
with protein molecules, increasing the tensile strength of the scar during
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47 Recognize the pathologic skin barriers in dermatoses
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Atopic dermatitis
Impaired skin barrier in a has affected skin Eczematous
patient with ichthyosis barrier function skin
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Irritant dermatitis
Irritant dermatitis possibly probably caused by
caused by dressings used repeated cleansing with
to treat a leg ulcer
an irritant
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Itch sensation
Itching and pruritus are often used synonymously and a frequent problem
Very sensitive, rapidly adapting mechanoreceptive free nerve endings or
unspecialised nerve endings at dermal-epidermal junction.
Exclusively in superficial layers of the skin,
Characterised by peculiar, tingling or uneasy irritation
Characteristic sensory feature of numerous dermatologic and non-
dermatologic disorders.
Transmitted by very small type C, (unmyelinated fiber ),
The purpose to call attention to activate the scratch reflex
Relieved by scratching or if the scratch is strong enough to elicit pain.
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Types of itch
a. Localized itch: Persists briefly after the stimulus is removed, and is
spontaneous. It is also called as “spontaneous itch” and is conducted
by myelinated, rapidly conducting delta ‘A’ fibres.
Itch-transmitting fibres
a. enter the dorsal horn of the grey matter of the spinal cord,
b. synapse there with secondary neurones which cross over
to the contralateral spinothalamic tract
c. ascend to the thalamus.
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53 Barrier Repair Treatments
Options include:
Moisturizers: contain variable combinations of naturally occurring skin lipids and
sterols as well as artificial or natural oils, humectants, emollients, and lubricants.
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54 Summary Neural Integration
55 Summary
Fasciculus Fasciculus
Cuneatus Gracilis
Sensory pathways
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56 Summary
The Posterior Column Pathway and the Spinothalamic Tracts
Any Question?
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Reference