Ichthyosis vulgaris is a member of a group of cutaneous disorders of keratinization and appear both clinically and histologically. Ichthyosis vulgaris disrupts this balance either because too many replacement skin cells are produced or because the skin cells do not separate well from the skin surface when it is their time to drop off. The result is that skin cells accumulate into thick flakes that adhere to the body. Ichthyosis vulgaris can be a nuisance, but rarely affects overall health. The condition has no known cure but can be managed.
The integumentary system is the organ system comprised of skin, hair, and nails protect the body from damage. The integumentary system serves many different purposes; it protects deeper tissues, excretes wastes, and regulates temperature. It also is embedded with sensory receptors to detect pain, sensation, pressure, and temperature. The integumentary system also provides for vitamin D synthesis with significant exposure to sunlight.
The integumentary system is the body’s largest organ system and accounts for about twelve to fifteen percent of total body weight. It separates and protects the body from its surroundings. The skin is made up of three major layers and tissues: the epidermis; dermis; hypodermis. The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin, providing the initial barrier to the external environment. Beneath that is the dermis which is made up of two sections, the papillary and reticular layers, which contain connective tissues, vessels, glands, follicles, hair roots, sensory nerve endings, and muscular tissue. The deepest layer of skin is the hypodermis, which is mostly made up of adipose tissue.
The epidermis is made up of epithelial cells. Its main function is protection, absorption of nutrients, and homeostasis. It consists of a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium comprised of four types of cells: keratinocytes, melanocytes, Merkel cells, and Langerhans’ cells. The major cell of the
References: 1. Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBNÂ 1-4160-2999-0. 2. Freedberg, et al. (2003). Fitzpatrick 's Dermatology in General Medicine. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-138076-0.