Anatomy & Physiology

Summer 07

Assignment #1

Histology & Integumentary System

Instructions
Please read each section/question carefully. Answer questions in complete sentences, and cite all outside materials using footnotes.  All work is to be typed, and may be submitted either by email or in class.  This assignment is due no later than midnight Thursday July 5th.  NO LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED.

Short Answer:
1) Explain how the structure of epithelial tissues matches the functions they perform.

2) Approximately 85% of all cancers are carcinomas, meaning that they arise from epithelial tissue.  Why do you think there are so many more carcinomas than sarcomas that arise from connective tissue?

3) Imagine comparing the skin to the structures and equipment that protect the contents and inhabitants of a house. Consider the epidermis, the dermis and hypodermis of the skin and explain which of them is most analogous to a cooling & heating system, to insulation, and to the wood or aluminum siding of the house.

4) Define atrophy & hypertrophy and discuss how these terms can be applied to the different tissues.

5) Explain why the typical epidermal wound does not result in scar formation.

6) Identify the different nerve receptors in the skin, and which tissue they are found. What sensations do they perceive?

Case Study A

Mr. A, recently diagnosed with prostate cancer has begun chemotherapy.  He noticed after the first month that his scalp hair has thinned, and is concerned that body hair in regions such as his axillary area is falling out.  He also noticed bouts of diarrhea within a day or two of each treatment, and became concerned that his cancer was worse than previously thought.
Q1: What noncancerous tissue type is reacting to the chemotherapy?
Q2:  Explain to Mr. A that losing hair and having digestive problems are considered to be normal side effects associated with the chemotherapy.  Your explanation should include the mechanism of chemotherapy's action, and why/how this cell type is reacting.  Also explain what will happen when the chemotherapy treatments are stopped.

Case Study B

Ms. B is scheduled for surgery and is concerned about the scar tissue that may result.  As her surgeon, you plan on making the incision parallel to cleavage lines, thus minimizing the scarring.
Q1: What are cleavage lines?
Q2: Explain to Ms. B, so she will understand, how her scarring will be minimized.

Case Study C

It was a very hot summer morning when Jake was getting ready for a qualifying tennis match to make the regional junior tournament. He got up at 6 am to work on his cardiovascular endurance. Before practice, he ran a slow but steady four miles. When he finished his jog he was perspiring profusely. He wisely drank a liter of water to replace the lost fluid.

Jake’s tennis coach had scheduled a practice match for him against his most challenging rival. The match started at 9 am and by 11 am that morning, Jake was getting worn out. He charged the net to volley a winning shot to end the match but his feet slipped out from under him, and he landed on his left forearm scraping it. Jake had more trouble getting up than normal. Although he drank water between games, Jake told his coach that he felt light-headed, sick to his stomach and weak. His coached him from the court and into the locker room. Immediately Jake’s coach assessed Jake’s condition. He had a terrible sunburn, was cold and clammy, and his left forearm was oozing a clear yellow liquid. Jake appeared to be in bad shape.

Q1: Lets figure out why Jake would perspire so much during exercise. What is the content of perspiration? How do the dissolved particles help get water out of the sweat glands?

Q2: How does perspiration help cool Jake down? If evaporation requires heat, how can it serve the function of cooling the body down? What happens to the body’s ability to cool itself by sweating if the weather is hot and humid as opposed to hot and dry?

Q3: Jake’s sun block wore off during the match. What layers of his skin were affected by the sun? What is a blister, and why would sunburn lead to a blister? How can exposure to the sun lead to skin cancer?

Q4: Guess Jake needs a different SPF for his sun block. How will Jake know what SPF to use - can you supply guidelines for him? What does SPF mean?  How is it calculated?