ANATOMICAL

PATHOLOGY

UNIT 0: OUR SKIN

 INDEX
1. Our skin: basic information
2. Skin layers
a. Epidermis
b. Dermis
c. Subcutaneous tissue
3. Skin conditions
4. Written comprehension: warts
5. Oral comprehension: birthmarks
1. Our skin: basic information

The skin is the largest organ in our bodies. It is ever-changing

and it contains many specialised cells and structures.

Its primary function is to serve as a protective barrier that

interacts with a sometimes hostile environment.

The skin regulates body temperature; it gathers sensory

information from the surrounding environment and plays an
active role in the immune system to protect the body from
disease.
2. Skin
layers
a) Epidermis

Epidermis is the outermost layer of the three layers of skin. Its thickness
depends on where it is located on the body. For example, it’s the thinnest
on the eyelids (half a millimeter). It’s thickest on the palms of the hands
and soles of the feet (1.5 millimeters).
The epidermis contains three specialized cells:
- melanocytes: produce pigment (melanin).
- langerhans cells: act as the first line of defense in the skin’s immune
system.
- merkel cells: have a function that is not yet fully understood.
Melanocytes
They are a type of cell that’s primarily located in the basal layer of the
epidermis. Melanocytes produce melanin, a brown pigment that is responsible
for skin coloration and protecting against the harmful effects of ultraviolet light.

They are also present in the hair and in the irises of the eyes.

Melanin protects the skin by shielding it from the sun. When the skin is exposed
to the sun, melanin production increases, which is what produces a tan. It’s the
body’s natural defense mechanism against sunburn.
Langerhans cells
Langerhans cells help to protect you by keeping dangerous antigens (any
substance that causes the immune system to produce antibodies against it) from
entering your body.

Langerhans cells are located in the skin of the respiratory, digestive and urogenital
tracts.
Merkel cells
Merkel cells are found in the skin, where they function mainly as touch receptors.
They serve as touch cells and relay touch-related information such as texture and
pressure to the brain. While they are present in human skin at varying levels
according to body site, they are at highest density on the fingertips and lips/face
where touch sensation is most acute.
https://merkelcell.org/about-mcc/what-is-a-merkel-cell/
b) Dermis
Definition

The dermis is the second and thickest layer of the three major layers of the skin,
located between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissues.

The dermis has two parts: a thin, upper layer known as the papillary dermis, and a
thick, lower layer known as the reticular dermis. Its thickness varies depending on
the location of the skin.
The dermis contains a lot of the body's water supply and it has important roles in
both regulating temperature and providing blood to the epidermis.
The papillary dermis is the uppermost layer of the dermis and is composed of
loose areolar connective tissue.

The reticular dermis is the lower layer of the dermis and is composed of dense
irregular connective tissue featuring densely packed collagen fibres. Within the
reticular region are the roots of hair, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, receptors,
nails, and blood vessels.
Functions of the dermis

The dermis plays several key roles, including:

- Producing sweat and regulating the body's temperature. Within the dermis are
sweat glands that produce sweat that comes out of the pores. The body
sweats as a way to cool itself off, regulate temperature and flush out toxins.
- Producing oil. The sebaceous glands produce sebum or oil. Sebum inhibits
bacterial growth on the skin and conditions the hair and skin.
- Growing hair. Hair follicles are located in the dermis. Every follicle root is
attached to tiny muscles, known as arrector pili muscles, that contract when
the body becomes cold or scared, causing goosebumps.
-
- Feeling. The dermis is full of nerve endings that send signals to the brain
about how things feel—whether something hurts, itches, or feels good.
- Distributing blood. Blood vessels are located in the dermis, which feeds the
skin, removes toxins and supply the epidermis with blood.
-
- Protecting the rest of the body. The dermis contains phagocytes, which are
cells that consume potentially harmful toxins and impurities, including
bacteria. The dermis already protects the body, but the phagocytes provide an
additional layer of protection from anything harmful that has penetrated the
epidermis.
-
- Giving the skin structure so it holds its shape. The dermal layer is responsible
for the turgor of the skin, acting in a similar way as does the foundation of a
building.
Types of cells in the dermis

The dermis is composed of three major types of cells:

- Fibroblasts.- The principal cell of the dermis handle the synthesis of collagen,
elastic and reticular fibers, and extracellular matrix material.
- Macrophages.- Specialised cells involved in the detection, phagocytosis and
destruction of bacteria and other harmful organisms.
- Adipocytes.- Dermal adipocytes are a distinct cell population from the
subcutaneous adipose tissue. Dermal adipocytes not only provide insulation
and energy storage but also assist in hair follicle regeneration and wound
healing
c) Subcutaneous tissue / Hypodermis
The subcutaneous tissue is the deepest layer of the skin. It is made of connective
tissue and fat. Subcutaneous tissue is well-vascularized, meaning that it’s filled
with blood vessels. It’s also the layer where your body stores visible body fat.
The main function of the hypodermis is helping protect the deep structures in your
body like your muscles and organs from changes in temperature and absorbs
shock to underlying structures.

The subcutaneous tissue plays a number of other roles, such as:

● gives your body a smooth and contoured appearance

● serves as an attachment site for your underlying muscles and fascia
 ● stores fat cells that act as energy reserves and produce hormones like leptin
● contains deep pressure sensors
● contains blood vessels that play a role in thermoregulation

https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-science-of-skin-emma-bryce#watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63YdIH2S2ls
3. Skin conditions

rash (sarpullido) nevus (nevo)

patch (mancha)
 wart (verruga) insect bite (picadura insecto) lump (bulto)

lichen planus (liquen plano) seborrheic keratosis sore (llaga)

 vitiligo alopecia areata psoriasis

athlete’s foot pimple rosacea

4. Written comprehension: warts
What is a wart like? A wart can grow anywhere on the body, but it is really
common on hands and feet. When the warts appear on your feet they are called
plantar warts. They can feel soft and spongy or hard, flat and rough.
The best way to avoid the HPV (Human Papilloma virus) is not to go barefoot. This
time of the year it’s common to want to walk barefoot at the pool, the water park or
public locker room, but these warm, moist places populated by lots of people are
exactly where you’ll find the HPV.
Are warts dangerous? Warts can hurt but these skin lesions on your feet won’t
turn cancerous. Are they contagious? Yes. Warts are spread through touching,
scratching or even sharing infected towels. You can transmit warts to another
person or to another part of your own body.
What should I do to treat the warts? The virus has a tendency to stick around in
your system and warts recur even after being removed. How do you prevent
plantar warts? Protect your feet with shoes or sandals when walking in dirty or wet
areas. Wash and dry your feet thoroughly and put on clean socks and shoes every
day.

● Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzVkr3fM4o8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIZjVKeICbg
5. Oral comprehension
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7tt28Tm-Tg
Tessa Schiethart suffers from Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Watch the videos and answer the
following questions.
1. What is the Sturge- Weber Syndrome?
2. How often are newborns born with this syndrome?
3. What is a glaucoma?
4. When did Tessa’s parents start her laser treatment? Why did they stop it three months
afterwards?
5. How did Tessa’s mother describe her?
6. Tessa’s mother was really happy when she was born but later she was concerned about…
7. Nowadays, Tessa studies…
8. She has Instagram and Facebook accounts to…
9. Tessa says: “Life is not only about……, it’s important what’s in the ….”
10. Tessa gives pieces of advice: ___________________, _________________________ and
________________.
Answers
1. It is a neurological and skin disorder, symptoms include a port wine stain, glaucoma
and brain abnormalities.
2. 1 / 100,000 newborns are born with that.
3. An eye disease.
4. She started the laser treatment when she was three months old. She stopped
because their eyes were more important than how she looked.
5. She thinks she is positive, knows what she wants, she realises she has to work for it
to reach her goals.
6. She was concerned about Tessa’s getting friends or relationships and not being
bullied at school.
7. Tessa studies at University in Amsterdam.
8. inspire people about body awareness.
9. appearance / inside
10. Follow your dreams, change the world in a positive way and help others to live their
lives to the fullest.
Additional material
- 5 Skin health myths to stop believing now.
https://www.ted.com/talks/jen_gunter_5_skin_health_myths_to_stop_believin
g_now?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedco
mshare
- The science of skin color.
- https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-science-of-skin-color-angela-koine-flynn
- The Anatomy of the Skin
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYLXDSq3n1U
Bibliography / Webography
- https://www.verywellhealth.com
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov