Introduction to Dermatolgy

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Dermatology is the medical science of disorders of the skin. Often skin lesions and disorders are markers of internal disease and mirror the processes occurring within the body. Dermatology has been called "a window through which to see the entire body." As such an understanding of Dermatology is essential to the Internist.

Contents 1 Basics 1.1 Skin Anatomy 1.2 Skin Function 1.3 Functional Adaptations of Skin 1.4 Cellular Components of Skin

[edit] Basics

[edit] Skin Anatomy

[edit] Skin Function

The primary functions of skin include protection from physical injury, impermeability (keeping fluids out of your body, and keeping necessary fluids inside of your body), resistance to microbial penetration, and function as a sensory end organ.

The secondary functions of skin include:

• Immune Functions
  • Dryness, desquamation, normal flora of bacteria
  • Antigen presenting cells such as Langerhans cells, Keratinocytes (immunoregulating cytokine), Epidermotropic T-Cells.

• Solar and Heat Interactions
  • UV Radiation Protection (melanin)
  • Thermoregulation
  • Vitamin D Metabolism

• Communication

[edit] Functional Adaptations of Skin

• Hair
• Nails
• Eccrine sweat glands
• Apocrine glands
• Sebaceous glands

[edit] Cellular Components of Skin

• Epidermis
  • Keratinocytes
  • Langerhans cells
  • Melanocytes
  • Merkel cells
  • Lymphocytes

• Dermis
  • Fibroblasts
  • Connective tissue
  • Extracellular proteins
  • Matrix
  • Endothelial cells
  • Mononuclear cells
  • Nerves and Neural organs

• Hypodermis
  • Connective tissue
  • Adipocytes
  • Endothelial cells