BMS 100 - Chapter 6 Outline
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Skin is composed of dermis and epidermis which are separated by a basement membrane.
  1. Epidermis
    1. stratum basale ("basal layer") - deepest layer, contains basal cells (epidermal stem cells)
    2. What happens to each of the two cells produced by division of one epidermal stem cell?
    3. Newly formed cells "push" toward surface and push out layers of older cells.
    4. Epidermal cells accumulate keratin as they are pushed toward the surface.
      * What are the characteristics of keratin?
    5. The outermost layer, from which exfoliation occurs, is composed of dead epidermal cells.

  2. Melanocytes / skin color
    1. melanocytes = cells that produce melanin
    2. normal location - among basal cells in stratum basale
    3. pigment granules - are produced in melanocytes, then transferred to other epidermal cells
    4. Where is ultraviolet radiation (UV light) within the electromagnetic spectrum and how does its "energy level" compare to that of visible light?
    5. What is the function of melanin?
    6. Within any specific region of skin, all people have about the same number of melanocytes.
    7. Skin color is affected mainly by the 1) shade and 2) amount of melanin.
    8. What are some chemical compounds other than melanin that affect skin color?

  3. Dermis
    1. What is the term for a tissue that contains blood vessels? Does this term apply to the dermis?
    2. Dermal blood vessels supply nutrients to all skin cells and help regulate body temperature.
    3. Glands and hair follicles are all embedded in dermis but surrounded by a layer of epidermis.

  4. Subcutaneous layer (hypodermis)
    1. beneath dermis, contains adipose tissue; helps conserve body heat

  5. Accessory Organs of the Skin (p. 117)
    1. hair follicle
      • = a small tube of epidermis (with stem cells) that has grown down into the dermis
      • What happens to each of the daughter cells produced by stem cells in a hair follicle?
    2. sebaceous glands
      • usually continuous with hair follicles (seb. glands also contain a layer of stem cells)
      • What happens to each of the daughter cells produced by stem cells in a sebaceous gland?
      • sebum = "skin oil" (keeps skin pliable and waterproof)
    3. sweat glands
      • each sweat gland is a coiled tube
      • major types: "watery" sweat glands, apocrine glands (produce body odor)
Chapter 6 Study Questions at OLC - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23
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Spring 2011