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BIO 140 Human Biology I - Questions and Solutions

Accessory Structures of the Skin - Solutions

Review Questions

1. In response to stimuli from the sympathetic nervous system, the arrector pili ________.

  1. are glands on the skin surface
  2. can lead to excessive sweating
  3. are responsible for goose bumps
  4. secrete sebum

2. The hair matrix contains ________.

  1. the hair follicle
  2. the hair shaft
  3. the glassy membrane
  4. a layer of basal cells

3. Eccrine sweat glands ________.

  1. are present on hair
  2. are present in the skin throughout the body and produce watery sweat
  3. produce sebum
  4. act as a moisturizer

4. Sebaceous glands ________.

  1. are a type of sweat gland
  2. are associated with hair follicles
  3. may function in response to touch
  4. release a watery solution of salt and metabolic waste

5. Similar to the hair, nails grow continuously throughout our lives. Which of the following is furthest from the nail growth center?

  1. nail bed
  2. hyponychium
  3. nail root
  4. eponychium

 

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Critical Thinking Questions

1. Explain the differences between eccrine and apocrine sweat glands.

Solution: Eccrine sweat glands are all over the body, especially the forehead and palms of the hand. They release a watery sweat, mixed with some metabolic waste and antibodies. Apocrine glands are associated with hair follicles. They are larger than eccrine sweat glands and lie deeper in the dermis, sometimes even reaching the hypodermis. They release a thicker sweat that is often decomposed by bacteria on the skin, resulting in an unpleasant odor.

2. Describe the structure and composition of nails.

Solution: Nails are composed of densely packed dead keratinocytes. They protect the fingers and toes from mechanical stress. The nail body is formed on the nail bed, which is at the nail root. Nail folds, folds of skin that overlap the nail on its side, secure the nail to the body. The crescent-shaped region at the base of the nail is the lunula.

 

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OpenStax, Accessory Structures of the Skin. OpenStax CNX. Feb 25, 2016 http://cnx.org/contents/d04891a4-ef83-498a-a15b-ba1aabfe8beb@4. © Feb 25, 2016 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 license.