The Strength Of Skin

Wound management is one of the cornerstones for nursing care however, effective wound care extends far beyond the application of the wound itself. Nurses may be required to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate wound care; therefore, order to fill these roles it’s critical to have an understanding of the several different areas of wound care such as, integumentary system, classification of wounds, wound procedures, and documentation. Knowledge in each of these areas will allow nurses to make well informed decisions about wound care, and as a result play an active part in wound healing.

1.1 describe the anatomy and physiology of the skin in relation to skin breakdown and the development of pressure sores.

1. describe the anatomy and physiology of the skin in relation to skin breakdown and the development of pressure sores

Protection – 3 different barriers: Chemical Barriers (skin secretion and melanin) Physical/Mechanical Barriers – continuity of the

The Integumentary system is defined as “an organ system consisting in the skin, hair, nails, and exocrine glands” (Integumentary System, 1999). This systems main purpose is to protect the body from the environment around it. The skin covers and protects tissues, nerves, veins, and muscles of the body. The hair and nails give extra strength in reinforcing the skin while keeping the body warm and protecting the skin from harmful UV rays. The exocrine glands of the skin include the sudoriferous glands, sebaceous glands, and the ceruminous glands. Each exocrine gland has a different function as well as location in the skin. The following text will explain the effects of melanoma on the integumentary system.

* Healing: When the epidermis breaks away due to a minor cut or burn, the cells on the lower layers of the skin migrate upwards as a sheet. When two ends of the sheet meet, the cells stop growing due to a process called 'contact inhibition'. Thus, the epidermis is sealed and the skin returns to normal.

A mechanoreceptor in the papillary layer of the dermis that responds to fine touch is a

The human sense of touch is known as the somatic or somatosensory system. The skin is the biggest and most complex organ in the somatosensory system.The somatosensory system permits the human body to experience pressure, texture, temperature, and pain, and to see the position and development of the body's muscles and joints.The receptor cells in the skin can be separated into three useful classifications: mechanoreceptors that sense pressure and surface, thermoreceptors that sense temperature, and nociceptors that sense pain. Thermoreceptors distinguish changes in temperature utilizing two sorts of receptor cells: warm and cold. Thus, thermoreceptors on the skin detects the temperature signal using two specific receptors cell: warm and cold.

Barrier to UV radiation, protects against harmful organisms, prevents loss of water, regulates body temperature, is an excretory organ, and is a receptor for external stimuli

The skin is one of the principal barrier instruments in your insusceptible framework. Little organs in the skin discharge oils that upgrade the hindrance capacity of the skin. Safe cells live in the skin and give the primary line of protection against diseases.

Stratum Corneum this layer is the outer most layers; it is formed from numerous layers of compressed scale- like, overlapping cells. What makes up the surface of the skin is corneocytes, which are commonly called ‘dead skin cells’. Keratinocytes are found in the epidermis they travel up through the layer where they are formed into corneocytes. The stratum corneum layer protects against lights, chemicals, water loss, heat and bacteria.

A Natural History of the senses by Diane Ackerman is a book in which the human senses are studied and explained via many concise subdivisions. Touch is the second part of the book, which offers an interesting perception of what compose touch. As an important aspect to understanding its functions,and by summarizing the chapter, it will provide a global view of what to expect. The feeling bubble is one of the subdivisions of the touch. In this subdivision, the skin is the main subject and is mainly seen as a biological aspect. In order to introduce us to her thoughts, the author compares the skin to a spacesuit. Likewise, she describes how the skin is part of our identity, along with the biological benefits brought to our body. Followed by many different examples she explains why, according to many researchers, the skin is an important organ and how impressive it is. She focuses on the real story of two little boys. In the end, she exposes the risks to which our skin is exposed throughout its life.

The epidermis is the outside layer that of which we can see. It varies in thickness depending on where it is located on the body, eg.it is thickest on the soles of the feet and palms of the hand; thinnest on eyelids and nipples. Desquamation constantly occurs, meaning the cells on the surface of the epidermis are shedding constantly. They are also constantly replaced from below as cells in the basal

These are detected by specialised receptors called cutaneous mechanoreceptors and thermoreceptors. This report will explore which skin area has the highest density of these receptors and therefore the greatest tactile and thermal acuity.

In conclusion the skin plays an important role in the maintenance of homeostasis. It is an important barrier to infections, and diseases. The skin also plays a part in the feedback loop that regulates body temperature and synthesizes important vitamins for our