Lesson #8: ALL SYSTEMS GO!

The Integumentary System
The Anatomy of the Skin


Did you know that the SKIN is the largest organ of the body? The SKIN is a remarkable structure because it:

T.A.P.P.I.


1) Tolerates chafing and abrasion of the sand;

2) Absorbs ultraviolet radiation;

3) Prevents dehydration;

4) Preserves our body temperature, and

5) Is interchangeable with other systems of the body.

The skin is a part of the 'Integumentary System,' and this system include the 'cutaneous memberane' (skin), as well as hair, nails, and the exocrine glands.  

FYI: One of the best ways to remember that the 'cutaneous (ku-tayn-e-us) membrane' is dealing with the skin: "Oh, she thinks she is so cute.  She ain't all that!" As you can see, the word "cute" deals with looks - looks deals with outside appearance (hair, nails) - and appearance deals with SKIN! See the logic?  Let's move on!

FYI: The prefix 'epi' means above. 


The cutaneous membrane has TWO components:

1) epidermis and the dermis, an underlying area of connective tissue, and

2) accessory structures - include hair, nails, and the exocrine glands. These structures are located chiefly in the dermis - It protrudes through the epidermis to the skin surface (visible). 

Deep to the dermis is the subcutaneous layer (or hypodermis) - It separates the integument from other organs, such as muscles & bones.  

FYI: The subcutaneous layer formal name is superficial fascial.(super-fih-shall-fase-shall) - For example: a person, or people who is, or are, not being for real, being pretentious, and/or think that they are 'all that, and a bag of chips' is considered to be 'superficial.'  And of course, the face is facial.  The word 'sub' means 'under,' or 'below.' Much like the subway system - a system of trains running underground the surface. 

PLEASE NOTE: Although the loose connective tissue of the subcutaneous layer is not often considered a part of the integument, its connective tissue fibers are interwoven with the dermis.  Therefore, it is considered to be integument.  


O.k., you must be saying to yourself as to why this woman is teaching about the skin instead of focusing on the medical terminology?  And you know what?  I don't blame you! BUT the skin is the largest organ of the human body, and yes, the skin also plays a part in the "real world!" Good or bad, skin is here to stay!


WARS have been started due to the hue, or color of the skin!  People throughout the globe have done unspeakable things due to the hue, or color of the skin!  People throughout America, for example, have acne and other blemish problems, cancer, just name a couple, on and within their SKIN!  

So yes, the skin is VERY important to know and learn about because no matter what happens to you in life, there is one thing you'll have for a lifetime - your skin!

LAYERS OF THE EPIDERMIS

The layers of the epidermis of "thick skin" covers surfaces of the soles of the feet, and the palms of the hands.


Just like building a house, commercial building, the Pyramids, or if you ever played "Johnny-on-the-Pony" as a child, you will know that whatever you are building, or erecting, you start from the bottom - below - on the ground, and work your way up to the top, or surface. 

Let's take building a modest size thick skin five-story building, for example:  (Yeah I know using 'thick skin' is a bit much, but work with me here!) 


FIRST, you break up the dirt in the ground to build a foundational basement.  Stratum germinativum (stra-tum-jer-mi-na-te-vum) - the[basement membrane].


SECOND, then you build the next level.  Stratum spinosum (stra-tum-spih-no-sum).

THIRD, then you build the next level.  Stratum granulosum (stra-tum-gran-u-lo-som).

FOURTH, then you build the next level.  Stratum lucidum (stra-tum-lu-sih-dum)

FIFITH, then you build the TOP (last) level.  Stratum corneum (stra-tum-kor-ne-um) - the [surface].

So, whenever you begin to study the above layers of the epidermis, think of them as building levels of floors in a house, building - whichever works best for you.  

FYI: One of the ways to remember the layers - try using this formula:  An idea is a germ that spin into a granulo making it lucid so it can surface for all to see (corneum).  The words corneum and cornea (eye) in Latin means "horny."  Enough said.

EPIDERMIS

1) Helps keep microorganisms outside the body.


2) Provides mechanical protection.


3) Consist of a 'stratified squamous epithelium' (strat-ih-fide-skwa-mus-ep-ih-thele-e-um).  


4) Keratinocytes (ker-at-in-no-sites) is the body's most abundant of epithelial cells.  


5) It contains TWO pigments: carotene, and melanin, which is the dominant pigmentation in EVERY Human Being on this planet!

SKIN COLOR

The hue (means 'color') of your skin is a result of an interaction between the epidermal pigmentation, and the dermal circulation.  

The DOMINANT pigment in every human being on this planet is melanin, which is a black, brown, or yellow-brown pigment produced by melanocytes. 


Melanocytes are located in the 'stratum germinativum,' which is the deepest base level of the dermis, or the 'basement membrane.' 


Melanocytes are: 

• deeply squeezed into the epithelial cells
  
• manufactures the pigment melanin from tyrosine (an amino acid and its molecules)
• packaged in melanosomes (are intracellular vesicles)

These vesicles travel within the processes of melanocytes and are transferred intact to keratinocytes.  

SO, WHERE IN THE "HUE" IS ALL THIS COMING FROM?

The transfer of pigmentation colors the keratinocyte temporarily until the melanosomes are destroyed by fusion with lysosomes ["lys," "lyso" meaning dissolution; "soma" meaning 'body']   

In Caucasians, this 'transfer of pigmentation' occurs in the stratum germinativum AND stratum spinosum, AND the cells of more superficial layers, such as the stratum granulosum, LOSE their pigmentation (but melanin is still present in the skin).

Lesson #7: From 'Seed' To 'Cell' (And Vice Versa)!

CELLS and TISSUE ROOTS

ROOT - A structure by which something is firmly attached.

Much like an apple tree, or any tree bearing fruit, there is no doubt that the body is one of the most basic, yet complex, unit of life in its simplest form.  Cells are the fundamental units of all plant and animal tissues.  By now, many of you have either learned about cells and tissues, and if not, you will soon enough.  Therefore, I will only provide basic information about cells and tissues, which will help you to understand the root words given here in this lesson to avoid conflict in your usual studies that you will receive from your teacher at school when you learn about cells and tissues..

When you're studying cells, it is called "Cytology" (si-tol-o-gee), which is the study of the structure and function of cells.  In our cell structure, we have 'cytoplasm' (si-to-plax-m) filling the cell called 'organelles' (or-gan-ells), which is a sub-unit each having a specific function.  The process of a cell dividing is called 'mitosis.' (my-toe-sis).  Then we have the 'nucleus.' (nu-kle-us), which is the control center of the cell.  The nucleus contains 'chromosomes' (krohm-o-sohms) that carries genetic information that are composed of a complex substance organically known as DNA.  Each human cell contains 46 chromosomes, and DNA is organized into separate units called 'genes.'

CELLS:

Cytology - The study of Cells.

Organelles - The sub-unit of a cell having specific functions.

Mitosis - The process of a cell dividing.

Nucleus - The control center of the cell.

Chromosomes - Carries genetic information - Each human cell contains 46 chromosomes.

DNA - Composed of a complex substance organically.  It is organized into separate units called 'genes.'

TISSUES:

Cells are organized into tissues that also performs specific functions, and there are four basic tissue types (And NO, Kleenex or Puff-Puffs is not one of them!):

1) Epithelial (ep-ih-thee-lie-al) tissues: It covers and protects the body structures and lines the organs, vessels, and cavities (an opening).

2) Connective tissue: It supports and bind body structures containing fibers, and non-living material between the cells (i.e., bone, blood, fatty tissue).


3) Muscle tissue: It contracts to produce movement.  The root word "my/myo" depicts 'muscle.'  There are three types of muscles:   A) Skeletal (or Voluntary) - moves the skeleton; B) Cardiac muscle of the heart, and C) Visceral (Smooth) muscle - forms the walls of the abdominal organs.

4) Nervous tissue: It makes up the brain, spinal cord and nerves.  It coordinates and controls body responses by transmitting electrical impulses. 

FYI: The 'smooth' muscles and the 'cardiac' muscle are known as "involuntary" muscles because these muscles can function without conscious control.  Examples: Heart attack, giving birth (contraction of the uterus.)

Turn to Pages 49 - 51: GETTING TO THE ROOT OF CELLS & TISSUES

Well, in Lesson #6, I had you to 'text message' a chosen friend or classmate involving some of the prefixes we've already gone over in the book.  In this lesson, however, it is time to focus on these root words because it is the essence of strength in you med'cabulary library.

1) cyt, cyto, cyte - mean cell.  Example: Cytotoxic (si-toe-tox-ik), destructive to cells.

2) hist, histo, histi, histio - mean tissue.  Example: Histologist (his-tol-ih-jist), a specialist who studies tissue.

3) blast -  means immature cell, or productive cell.  Example: Blastocyte (blast-o-site), an undifferentiated embryonic cell.  Another Example: Fibroblast, a cell that produces fibers.

4) phag, phago - means eat, or ingest.  Example: Phagocyte (fag-o-site), a cell that ingests waste and other foreign matter.  DO YOU REMEMBER (DYR) WHAT 'CYTE' MEANS?

5) gen - means formation, origin.  Example: Genesis (jen-o-sis), origin of something.

6) morph, morpho - means form, structure.  Example: Morphology (morf-ol-o-gee), study of form and structure.  RELATIONSHIP WORD: "ology" is the suffix meaning "study of."

7) fibr, fibro - means fiber.  Example: Fibrosis (fi-bro-sis), abnormal formation of fibrous tissue.  RELATIONSHIP WORD: "osis" is the suffix meaning "a process."

8) aden, adeno - means gland.  Example: Adenitis (ad-eh-ni-tis), inflammation of a gland.  RELATIONSHIP WORD: "itis" is the suffix meaning "inflammation." 

9) muc, muco - means mucus (mucous), mucus of the membrane.  Example: Mucorrhea (mu-ko-re-ah), increased flow of mucus.  RELATIONSHIP WORD: "rrhea" is the suffix meaning "flow."

10) myx, myxo - means mucous or mucus.  Example: Myxoma (mix-so-mah), tumor of the mucus tissue.  RELATIONSHIP WORD: "oma" is the suffix meaning "tumor."

BODY CHEMISTRY ROOTS

Ordinarily, whenever Cells and Tissues are being taught in class, it is customary to stay on target with its entire functioning processes from beginning to the end.  However, to stay on track of what I stated earlier in this lesson about not having to conflict with what your teacher in school may, or may not have already taught on this subject, I will provide some root words relating to "Body Chemistry," which are important roots to know, especially since many of you may have already heard much of these words, and/or read them in some of your reading materials.

1) adip, adipo - means fat.  Example: Adipose (ad-ih-poze), of a fatty nature (The presence of fat in the cells of adipose tissue).

2) lip, lipo - means fat, lipid.  Example: Liposuction (lie-po-sul-shun), surgical removal of fat.  Another Example: Lipoma (lip-o-mah), a benign soft encapsulated tumor of adipose tissue. 

3) steat, steato - means fatty.  Example: Steatoma (stee-at-o-mah), a lipoma; a fatty mass retained within a sebaceous gland.  RELATIONSHP WORD: "oma" is the suffix meaning "tumor."  

Please DEFINE the remaining words on page 52.  Also, provide TWO Examples for each word given in the book.  

Please DEFINE the SUFFIXES given on pages 51 and 52.  In the EXAMPLE COLUMN, write down the root words and suffixes giving EACH its definitions and meaning.

NEXT TIME: PAGES 54 - 61: GOING DEEPER INTO OUR "ROOTS!"


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