Melanoma
One in five Americans acquire skin cancer throughout their lifetime (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.164). Although there are variations of skin cancer, melanoma is a very serious diagnosis. In order to understand how melanoma greatly affects the skin, one must comprehend the basic structure of the integumentary system. The skin is made up of three layers the epidermis, dermis, and the hypodermis. The epidermis contains epithelial tissue while the dermis is composed of connective tissue. The hypodermis is not technically part of the skin, but it anchors the skin to muscle and stores fat (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.151). The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and its main function is for protection from invading microorganisms. It shields …show more content…
These five layers of the epidermis are stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidim, and stratum corneum. The stratum basale is the deepest layer in the epidermis which contains a single row of stem cells that are constantly going through mitosis. Every time a cell divides, it pushes the more mature keratinocyte up the epidermal layer to produce more keratinocytes (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.153). The stratum spinosum layer contains several cell layers which are sustained by desmosomes. The stratum spinosum also contains keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Langerhans cells which are the most abundant in this layer. The stratum granulosum is a very thin layers of cells. It is also the location where keratinocytes take a drastic change in their appearance and the process of keratinization occurs. Keratinocytes flatten and their nuclei and other organelles break down (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.153). This process exhibits the lamellar granules and the keratohyaline which are held together by tight junctions. The stratum lucidim layer is a very thin layer of clear cells that contains dead keratinocytes. This layer is only found in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis which contains 20 to 30 thick layers which are fully keratinized …show more content…
The sole contributor to skin cancer is overexposure to UV radiation in sunlight because it damages DNA bases (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.164). Skin cancers include melanoma that come from the pigmented cells of the skin (doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.05303-4). There are three different types of skin cancer which are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma which is the least malignant and most common. It makes 80% of cases and occur in the most sun exposed area. This type of skin cancer occurs in the stratum basal and its cells slowly grow and invade the dermis and hypodermis (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.165). Squamous cell carcinoma evolves from keratinocytes of the stratum spinosum (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.165). These cells tend to develop rapidly and metastasize. They mostly arise on the head and hands. The survival rate for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is very high and can be cured by surgical excision or radiation therapy. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin
One in five Americans acquire skin cancer throughout their lifetime (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.164). Although there are variations of skin cancer, melanoma is a very serious diagnosis. In order to understand how melanoma greatly affects the skin, one must comprehend the basic structure of the integumentary system. The skin is made up of three layers the epidermis, dermis, and the hypodermis. The epidermis contains epithelial tissue while the dermis is composed of connective tissue. The hypodermis is not technically part of the skin, but it anchors the skin to muscle and stores fat (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.151). The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and its main function is for protection from invading microorganisms. It shields …show more content…
These five layers of the epidermis are stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidim, and stratum corneum. The stratum basale is the deepest layer in the epidermis which contains a single row of stem cells that are constantly going through mitosis. Every time a cell divides, it pushes the more mature keratinocyte up the epidermal layer to produce more keratinocytes (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.153). The stratum spinosum layer contains several cell layers which are sustained by desmosomes. The stratum spinosum also contains keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Langerhans cells which are the most abundant in this layer. The stratum granulosum is a very thin layers of cells. It is also the location where keratinocytes take a drastic change in their appearance and the process of keratinization occurs. Keratinocytes flatten and their nuclei and other organelles break down (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.153). This process exhibits the lamellar granules and the keratohyaline which are held together by tight junctions. The stratum lucidim layer is a very thin layer of clear cells that contains dead keratinocytes. This layer is only found in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis which contains 20 to 30 thick layers which are fully keratinized …show more content…
The sole contributor to skin cancer is overexposure to UV radiation in sunlight because it damages DNA bases (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.164). Skin cancers include melanoma that come from the pigmented cells of the skin (doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.05303-4). There are three different types of skin cancer which are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma which is the least malignant and most common. It makes 80% of cases and occur in the most sun exposed area. This type of skin cancer occurs in the stratum basal and its cells slowly grow and invade the dermis and hypodermis (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.165). Squamous cell carcinoma evolves from keratinocytes of the stratum spinosum (Marieb and Hoehn, pg.165). These cells tend to develop rapidly and metastasize. They mostly arise on the head and hands. The survival rate for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is very high and can be cured by surgical excision or radiation therapy. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin