Integumentary
System – Notes
These notes are about aging skin.
1.
Epidermis
a.
Keratin -> barrier to microbes,
chemicals, water, trauma
1.
AGING -> (1) slightly thinner and
uneven -> ¯
barrier (chemicals);
(2) weaker and looser -> ¯
barrier (microbes, chemicals), scaly appearance
(3) slower production -> slower healing -> ¯ barrier (microbes, water, chemicals, trauma)
b.
Melanin -> barrier to light
1.
AGING -> (1) less, slower
production -> ¯ barrier to light -> sunburn, skin cancer,
wrinkling, immune response
(2) uneven distribution -> cosmetic problems ( age spots )
c.
Langerhans
cells
-> barrier (start immune responses against microbes, chemicals), fights skin
cancer
1.
AGING -> (1) decreased numbers
-> immune response -> ¯ defense (microbes, chemicals,
cancer) and ¯ allergic responses (¯ discomfort, ¯ warning of danger {microbes,
chemicals}
d.
Hair -> shade, thermal insulation,
cushion, filter, ¯
touch sensation
1.
AGING -> fewer; thinner; rougher; ¯ color; altered distribution, baldness, in hair on face, chin, lips; in eyebrows, ears, nostrils) -> most functions in most areas {some exceptions} and
altered cosmetic effect {mostly worse effect}
e.
Nails -> protect from trauma; used
as tools
1. AGING -> weaker, slower growth, less clear, rougher -> ¯ protection, worse cosmetic effect, nail infections
2.
Dermis
a.
Barrier
1.
cross-linked
collagen -> stiffness -
traumatic injury
2.
enzymes
weaken collagen ->
traumatic injury
3.
¯
fibroblast functioning -> slower healing
4.
¯
WBCs and ¯ macrophages -> ¯ immune response
5.
¯
vessels -> ¯
inflammation
6.
¯
vessels -> weaker skin and slower healing
b.
Information
1.
¯
WBCs, macrophages, mast cells -> ¯
immune response, ¯
inflammation
2.
¯
vessels -> ¯
inflammation
3.
¯
touch and pressure receptors -> ¯
sensation
c.
Temperature
regulation
1.
¯
vessels and slower vessel response -> ¯
temp. regulation (for heat & cold)
2.
¯
sweat glands and sweat gland functioning -> ¯ temp. regulation (for heat)
d.
Vitamin
D production
1.
slower
cells and reactions -> ¯
vitamin D production
2.
¯
water and fiber cross-links -> trapped
vitamin D
3.
¯
vessels -> ¯
supply of raw materials and ¯
removal of vitamin D
e.
Cosmetic
effects
1.
irregularity and binding of elastin -> sagging, wrinkling
2.
¯
water -> sagging, wrinkling
3.
¯
vessels -> paleness
4. ¯ sebum production -> roughness of skin and ¯ luster of hair
3.
Boundary between the epidermis and
the dermis
a.
¯
number of connections by keratinocytes
b.
¯
number and size of dermal papillae
c. EFFECTS = ¯ service of epidermis, separation of epidermis and dermis -> ¯ healing, ¯ pain, infection, ¯ gripping by fingerprints
4.
Subcutaneous
layer
a.
thinning
fat, ¯ water in gel -> ¯ cushioning -> injury from trauma
b. thinning fat -> ¯ insulation -> ¯ temp. regulation
5. Skin diseases
a. increased occurrence and severity with increasing age
6.
Sunlight
a.
increased
production of and damage from free radicals
b.
production of irregular keratinocytes -> skin cancer
c.
patchy distribution of melanocytes -> age spots
d.
¯
Langerhans cells ->
infection, skin cancer, warning from inflammation
e.
irregularities in elastin -> sagging and wrinkling
f.
¯
blood vessels -> ¯
inflammation for warning, ¯
temp. regulation, ¯
vitamin D production and removal
g.
thicker
capillary walls -> ¯
exchange for epidermis, dermis, vitamin D production and removal
h.
enlarged
sebaceous glands -> adverse cosmetic effects (i.e., blackheads)
i.
Prevention
1.
avoid
exposure
2.
wear
protective clothing
3.
use
sunscreen lotions
4.
use
anti-oxidant lotions
j.
Treatment
1.
Tretinoin.
(a)
reduces
sun damage
(b)
reveres
cosmetic effects from sun damage
(c)
reverses
sun damage to collagen, vessels, and the junction between the epidermis and
dermis
2.
Skin
peals and abrasion
3.
Laser
treatment
4. Moisturizers
7.
Heat
a.
production of irregular keratinocytes -> skin cancer
b.
patchy distribution of melanocytes -> age spots
c.
¯
Langerhans cells ->
infection, skin cancer, ¯ warning from inflammation
d.
¯
blood vessels -> ¯
inflammation for warning, ¯
temp. regulation, ¯
vitamin D production and removal
e.
thicker
capillary walls -> ¯
exchange for epidermis, dermis, vitamin D production and removal
f. enlarged sebaceous glands -> adverse cosmetic effects (i.e., blackheads)
8.
Decubitus
ulcers
a.
¯
immobility; age changes weaken skin; thinner fat layer; circulatory diseases
(e.g., atherosclerosis); ¯
nutrition; ¯ skin hygiene; ¯ exercise; diseases (e.g., atherosclerosis, diabetes)
b. infection; pain; adverse cosmetic effect
9.
Neoplasia
a.
benign
1.
cosmetic;
risk of skin injury; discomfort;
risk of infection
b.
malignant
1.
cosmetic;
infection; damage other organs
c.
Prevention
1. skin care; ¯ sunlight; remain active; good nutrition; regular evaluation and corrective measures; ¯ exposure to harmful factors (microbes, trauma, burns, chemicals); avoid or treat other diseases (e.g., atherosclerosis, diabetes)
Copyright 2020: Augustine G. DiGiovanna, Ph.D., Salisbury University, Maryland
The materials on this site are licensed under CC BY-NC-SA
4.0 .
https://www.biologyofhumanaging.com/Figures/CC-BY-NS-SA%20image.jpg
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
This license requires that reusers give
credit to the creator. It allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build
upon the material in any medium or format, for noncommercial purposes only. If
others modify or adapt the material, they must license the modified material
under identical terms.
Previous print editions of the text Human Aging: Biological Perspectives are ©
Copyright 2000, 1994 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and 2020 by Augustine
DiGiovanna.
View License Deed | View Legal Code
