- 1 On being a patient
- 2 Modern medicine: foundations, achievements, and limitations
- 3 Global patterns of disease and medical practice
- 4 Cell biology
- 5 Immunological mechanisms
- 6 Principles of clinical oncology
- 7 Infection
- 8 Sexually transmitted diseases and sexual health
- 9 Chemical and physical injuries and environmental factors and disease
- 10 Clinical pharmacology
- 11 Nutrition
- 12 Metabolic disorders
- 13 Endocrine disorders
- 14 Medical disorders in pregnancy
- 15 Gastroenterological disorders
- 16 Cardiovascular disorders
- 17 Critical care medicine
- 18 Respiratory disorders
- 19 Rheumatological disorders
- 20 Disorders of the skeleton
- 21 Disorders of the kidney and urinary tract
- 22 Disorders of the blood
- 23 Disorders of the skin
- 23.1 Structure and function of skin
- 23.2 Clinical approach to the diagnosis of skin disease
- 23.3 Inherited skin disease
- 23.4 Vesiculobullous disease
- 23.5 Papulosquamous disease
- 23.6 Dermatitis/eczema
- 23.7 Cutaneous vasculitis, connective tissue diseases, and urticaria
- 23.8 Disorders of pigmentation
- 23.9 Photosensitivity
- 23.10 Infections and the skin
- 23.11 Sebaceous and sweat gland disorders
- 23.12 Blood and lymphatic vessel disorders
- 23.13 Hair and nail disorders
- 23.14 Tumours of the skin
- 23.15 Skin and systemic diseases
- 23.16 Cutaneous reactions to drugs
- 23.17 Management of skin disease
- 24 Neurological disorders
- 25 The eye
- 26 Psychiatry and drug related problems
- 27 Forensic medicine
- 28 Sports medicine
- 29 Geratology
- 30 Pain
- 31 Palliative medicine
- 32 Biochemistry in medicine
- 33 Acute medicine
(p. 4583) Structure and function of skin
- Chapter:
- (p. 4583) Structure and function of skin
- Author(s):
John A. McGrath
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199204854.003.2301_update_001
Update:
Expanded discussion of (1) keratinocyte stem cells and the signals that influence them; (2) filaggrin mutations that are a risk factor for systemic allergies; (3) pathophysiology of toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Skin provides a mechanical barrier against the external environment, but has further roles in thermoregulation, metabolism, and the regulation of fluid balance, as well as being socially important in contributing to physical and chemical attraction between individuals.
There are more than 1000 different skin diseases, although relatively few are commonly encountered in general medical practice. However, several skin conditions can reflect a general medical problem such as a systemic infection, or a cutaneous manifestation of internal disease (e.g. patients with underlying malignancy, endocrine disorders or chronic inflammatory diseases). An understanding of skin structure and function is also important in dealing with the common clinical scenario of ‘skin failure’ resulting from adverse drug reactions, burns, or extensive trauma....
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- 1 On being a patient
- 2 Modern medicine: foundations, achievements, and limitations
- 3 Global patterns of disease and medical practice
- 4 Cell biology
- 5 Immunological mechanisms
- 6 Principles of clinical oncology
- 7 Infection
- 8 Sexually transmitted diseases and sexual health
- 9 Chemical and physical injuries and environmental factors and disease
- 10 Clinical pharmacology
- 11 Nutrition
- 12 Metabolic disorders
- 13 Endocrine disorders
- 14 Medical disorders in pregnancy
- 15 Gastroenterological disorders
- 16 Cardiovascular disorders
- 17 Critical care medicine
- 18 Respiratory disorders
- 19 Rheumatological disorders
- 20 Disorders of the skeleton
- 21 Disorders of the kidney and urinary tract
- 22 Disorders of the blood
- 23 Disorders of the skin
- 23.1 Structure and function of skin
- 23.2 Clinical approach to the diagnosis of skin disease
- 23.3 Inherited skin disease
- 23.4 Vesiculobullous disease
- 23.5 Papulosquamous disease
- 23.6 Dermatitis/eczema
- 23.7 Cutaneous vasculitis, connective tissue diseases, and urticaria
- 23.8 Disorders of pigmentation
- 23.9 Photosensitivity
- 23.10 Infections and the skin
- 23.11 Sebaceous and sweat gland disorders
- 23.12 Blood and lymphatic vessel disorders
- 23.13 Hair and nail disorders
- 23.14 Tumours of the skin
- 23.15 Skin and systemic diseases
- 23.16 Cutaneous reactions to drugs
- 23.17 Management of skin disease
- 24 Neurological disorders
- 25 The eye
- 26 Psychiatry and drug related problems
- 27 Forensic medicine
- 28 Sports medicine
- 29 Geratology
- 30 Pain
- 31 Palliative medicine
- 32 Biochemistry in medicine
- 33 Acute medicine