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Topic 6 - Clinical Considerations

Terms in this set (17)

healing of wounds involving just the epidermis
results in greater mitotic activity in the stratum basale and stratum spinosum
healing of skin involving the dermis and/or subcutaneous layer
Wound causes rupture of blood vessels within the dermis (and subcutaneous layer, if that extensive), with resultant bleeding

Blood platelets and fibrinogen proteins form a clot, which stops bleeding

Scab forms and seals off wound

Within the dermis (and subcutaneous layer, if damaged), fibroblasts form collagen fibers which bind wound edges together; within the epidermis, epithelial cells (from the stratums basale and spinosum) migrate in from wound edges and start proliferating

Scab sloughs off when healing is nearly complete
when the scab forms and seals off wound, what may be seen?
May see signs of inflammation (redness, swelling, heat, pain) as damaged cells and foreign microorganisms are destroyed by immune cells
First-degree burns (aka, superficial partial-thickness)
Injury to the epidermis only

Skin becomes warm and reddened; surface layers of skin may be shed (i.e., 'peeling')
Second-degree burns (aka, deep partial-thickness)
Destruction of the epidermis and some underlying dermis as well (but no significant damage to the accessory organs)

Skin blisters and healing process will include epithelial cells from the accessory organs within the damaged area
Third-degree burns (aka, full-thickness)
Destroys the epidermis, dermis, and accessory organs

Epithelial healing can occur only at the margins of the injury
Fourth degree burns
Destruction affects epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layer (possibly, even the underlying tissues deep to the subcutaneous layer)

Epithelial healing can occur only at the margins of the injury
benign neoplasms
mole & wart

not life-threatening
mole (nevus)
benign abnormal growth of melanocytes
wart (verruca)
abnormal growth of skin tissue, caused by viral infection
malignant neoplasms
cutaneous carcinoma & cutaneous melanoma

life-threatening
cutaneous carcinoma
thought to be due to long-term mild overexposure to ultraviolet radiation; malignant
cutaneous carcinoma can divide in what layers?
Divisible into basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma
cutaneous melanoma
thought to be due to a few episodes of relatively short, but intense over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation; highly malignant
'ABCDE' rule for identification of cutaneous melanoma
Asymmetry, irregular Borders, multiple and/or abnormal Colors, increasing or large Diameter (larger than a pencil eraser), plus Evolution (any unexplained change)
the integumentary system can indicate what additional clinical issues?
1. Dietary deficiencies

2. Heavy metal exposure (i.e., lead, mercury, arsenic)

3. Allergic reactions

4. Specific diseases
aging can cause what 5 changes of the integumentary system?
1. Loss of elasticity in the dermis

2. Decrease in amount of adipose tissue in subcutaneous layer

3. Decreased activity of hair follicles and exocrine glands (especially, eccrine and sebaceous glands)

4. Changes in pigmentation (of skin and hair)

5. Increase in number of moles
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