Integumentary System Case Study

Suntans and Sunburns

On the first day after arriving in Australia for Christmas vacation, a University of Niagara student plays out in the sun for six hours. Later that night he notices that the skin on his trunk, legs and arms becomes red, swollen and extremely painful. By morning all of the afflicted areas have developed numerous blisters. These areas cover about 30% of the trunk (front and back) and 40% of the arms and legs.

1. What organ has been damaged? ·The Integuemtary System (skin) has been damaged.

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2. What general types of tissue have been afflicted? ·Stratified squamous epithelium in the epidermis, areolar connective tissue, and some dense irregular connective tissue in the dermis have been afllicted

3. What type of burn has the student received? Explain. ·He has received burns in the 2nd degree which are accompanied by blisters and pain.

4. What type of radiation has caused the burn? ·Ultraviloet radition (UVA) specifically UBA and UBV.

5. List ALL the layers of the skin that have been damaged? ·Epidermis: stratum corneum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum, and stratum basale. ·Dermis (upper region): papillary layer . List ALL layers that have been killed? ·None of the layers have been killed, just damaged in the second degree.

7. What tissue repair process causes the blistering? ·Tissue regeneration which is the process in which liquid builds up between the epidermis and the dermis layer causing them to separate.

8. Why is this type of burn so painful? ·Due to the damage of the epidermis many nerve endings in the dermis have been exposed which cause pain. A burn is considered critical and should receive prompt medical attention if: > 25% of the body is covered by 2nd degree burns or > 10% of the body is covered by 3rd degree burns

9. What percentage of the total body surface has been burned? Show your calculations! ·(36% x 30%)= 11% ·(36% x 40%)= 14% ·(18% x 40%)= 7% ·(11% + 14% + 7%)= 32%; #2% of the body’s surface has been burned.

10. Is the burn critical? Should the student seek medical attention? ·Yes he should seek medical attention to avoid developing any infections in the lacerations, as well as to receive meds to assist with the pain.

11. List all of the body functions that may be disrupted by such a burn. ·Integumentary ·Nervous ·Lymphatic ·Muscular Recovery

12. After a few days the skin peels and the burned areas begin to heal.

The student notices that the healing areas are more susceptible to injuries due to chafing or trauma. What has happened to the skin that would cause this increased susceptibility? ·The barrier function has been altered so the skin is more susceptibile to trauma and damage. During the next week after the student returns to the States, his friend tells him that a sunburn prepares his skin for a deep tan. His friend encourages him to quickly begin tanning sessions at a local tanning salon before the effects of the burn wear off.

13. What would you advise him to do? Why? I would advise him not go and to avoid long periods of exposure to sun and other radiation devices.

14. Is a deep tan a sign of skin that is healthy or severely stressed? Explain your answer. ·A deep tan is a sign of severely stressed skin. When skin is exposed to UV rays, cells called melaoncytes produce brown pigment melanin, which darkens skin the cells of the epidermis. The darkening of the skin cells is the skin natural defense mechanism against further damage for UV radiation. Unrepaired damage like so can lead to an increase risk of developing skin cancer and other skin problems like photoaging-wrinkles, sagging skin, and sun spots.

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