ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SKIN RELATION TO SKIN BREAKANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SKIN RELATION TO SKIN BREAKDOWN AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESSURE SORESDOWN AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESSURE SORES

UNDERSTAND THE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SKIN IN RELATION TO PRESSURE AREA CARE:
1. DESCRIBE THE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SKIN RELATION TO SKIN BREAKDOWN AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESSURE SORES.
Skin is the largest organ of the body, covering and protecting the entire surface of the body. The total surface area of skin is around 3000 sq inches or roughly around 19,355 sq cm depending on age, height, and body size. The skin, along with its derivatives, nails, hair, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands forms the integumentary system. Besides providing protection to the body the skin has a host of other functions to be performed like regulating body temperature, immune protection, sensations of touch, heat, cold, and pain through the sensory nerve endings, communicating with external openings of numerous other body systems like digestive system, urogenital system, and respiratory system via mucous membranes.
There are 4 stages in relation to the skin breaking down which causes pressure sores, it’s important that the correct staging is done because this determines the sort of medical treatment an individual may require.
STAGE 1 - Skin may appear reddened like a bruise. The integrity of the skin remains intact-there are no breaks or tears, but the area is at high risk of further breakdown.
STAGE 2 - Skin breaks open, wears away and forms an ulcer.
STAGE 3 - The sore worsens and extends beneath the skin surface, forming a small crater. There may be no pain at this stage due to nerve damage. The risk of tissue death and infection are high.
STAGE 4 - Pressure sores progress, with extensive damage to deeper tissues (muscles, tendons and bones). Serious complications, such as osteomyelitis (infection of the bone) or sepsis (infection carried through the blood) can occur.