CC2417 Human Biology

Tutorial 4
Chapter 5 Skin and Integument System

  
       
 
1. The skin is one of the larger organs of the body.

2. The tough layer of waterproof material that makes up the outermost portion of
the epidermis is called the stratum lucidum.

3. In healthy skin, the production of epidermal cells is closely balanced with the
loss of skin cells.

4. Synovial membranes are composed primarily of connective tissues.

5. When the body temperature drops below normal, dermal blood vessels are
likely to dilate.

6. Melanocytes can transfer granules of melanin into nearby epithelial cells.

7. The arrector pili muscle is composed of striated muscle tissue.

8. The secretion of the sebaceous glands is called sebum.

9. The major blood vessels that supply the skin are located between the dermis
and the epidermis.

10. The outermost layer of the epidermis is stratum basale and the innermost layer
is stratum corneum.

11. The function of melanocytes is to synthesize melanin, which protects underlying

cells from the effects of ultraviolet light.

12. The dermis is very flat compared to the epidermis, which has ridges projecting
inward and elevations called papillae.

13. If the temperature of the body drops below the normal range, the skin responds
by constricting epidermal blood vessels, activating sweat glands, and
inactivating muscles.

14. Sunlight, ultraviolet light, and X rays all cause skin to darken because they
cause an increase in blood flow to the dermis.

15. Carcinomas appear most often in the skin of the neck, face, and scalp.

16. Three physiological factors that affect the color of skin are: amount of blood in
dermal vessels, carotene in the subcutaneous layer, and various diseases.

17. Sebaceous glands secrete sebum, which functions to destroy bacteria that may
be present on the skin.

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CC2417 Human Biology

18. Epidermal cells that move up through the strata become very keratinized as
they die due to a lack of blood supply.

19. Hair color is determined by the amount of keratin protein produced during
keratinization.

20. Bedsores, or decubitus ulcers, are dead epidermal cells resulting from
decreased blood supply to the affected region of the skin.

21. Melanin production is greater in the skin of people who live outdoors all the time
than in people who do not.

22. Vasoconstriction, or constriction of dermal blood vessels, is greater at 97.5

degrees Fahrenheit than at 98.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

23. Skin cancers originating from epithelial cells are called melanomas and those
arising from melanocytes are called carcinomas.

24. Carcinomas are rarer than melanomas and occur primarily in people who work
indoors but occasionally experience blistering sunburns during weekend
activity.

25. Melanomas develop from melanocytes; therefore, their color is always

brownish.

26. Melanomas appear most often in the skin of the trunk, especially in the back, or
in the skin of the limbs.

27. Typically, a melanoma spreads through the skin horizontally but can grow
downward into the dermis and can even invade deeper tissues.

28. A burn that involves the epidermis only is called a deep partial-thickness burn.

29. Healing of a deep partial-thickness burn involves production of new cells from
the stratum basale, or germinativum.

30. A burn that destroys the epidermis, dermis, and accessory organs of the skin is
called a full-thickness burn, and the skin becomes dry and leathery.

Level 2 Review Exercises

3. Distinguish between the epidermis and the dermis.

14. Explain the function of sebaceous glands.

15. Distinguish between eccrine and apocrine sweat glands.

25. Distinguish among first-, second-, and third-degree burns.

Level 3 Critical Thinking Questions

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CC2417 Human Biology

3. As a rule, a superficial partial-thickness burn is more painful than one involving deeper
tissues. How would you explain this observation?

8. How is skin peeling after a severe sunburn protective? How might a fever be protective?

9. Why would collagen and elastin added to skin creams be unlikely to penetrate the skin – as
some advertisements imply they do?

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