The subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis) contains a high concentration of which type of tissue?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis) is rich in connective tissue, including adipose (fat) and loose areolar tissue, binding skin to underlying structures while cushioning. Muscle tissue is deeper, nervous tissue is sparse (mostly nerves traversing), and epithelial tissue forms the epidermis, not hypodermis. Connective tissue's dominance, supporting fat and vessels, defines its composition, making this the correct type.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Edema is assessed by pressing on the skin and noting how long the depression (pitting) takes to resolve. A depression resolving in 10-15 seconds corresponds to +2 edema on the pitting edema scale. The scale is: +1 (slight pitting, resolves quickly, about 0-2 mm), +2 (moderate pitting, resolves in 10-15 seconds, about 4 mm), +3 (deeper pitting, resolves in 30 seconds, about 6 mm), and +4 (very deep pitting, resolves in over 2 minutes, about 8 mm). The 10-15 second resolution time aligns directly with the +2 level, indicating moderate edema that takes a noticeable but not excessively long time to rebound, making it the correct answer.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The stratum basale is the deepest layer of the epidermis, located just above the dermis, where cell division occurs to replenish the skin. The stratum spinosum is above it, adding structural support. The stratum granulosum is higher, where keratinization begins, and the stratum corneum is the outermost layer of dead cells. The stratum basale's position at the base of the epidermis makes it the deepest, responsible for regenerating the layers above it, confirming it as the correct choice.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Sebaceous glands produce sebum, an oily substance that lubricates skin and hair, preventing dryness and aiding waterproofing. Impetigo is a bacterial infection, not a secretion. Serous refers to a watery fluid from serous glands, not sebaceous ones. 'Sirius' seems to be a typo or distractor (possibly meant 'serous'), but it's not relevant. Sebum is the specific secretion of sebaceous glands, tied to their role in skin health, making it the correct answer.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Fingerprints are unique patterns formed by ridges on the skin's surface, established during fetal development between the 10th and 16th weeks of gestation. These ridges arise from the dermal papillary layer, the superficial part of the dermis, which interfaces with the epidermis. The epidermis molds over these dermal papillae, creating the visible patterns. The stratum corneum, the outermost layer, is a dead, keratinized layer that does not determine ridge formation. The stratum germinativum, while critical for epidermal cell production, follows the dermal template rather than initiating it. The dermal reticular layer, deeper in the dermis, provides structural support but is not directly involved in fingerprint patterning. Genetic factors influence the ridge patterns, but their physical basis lies in the papillary layer's undulations. This prenatal process ensures fingerprints are permanent and unique, a feature exploited in identification sciences, making the dermal papillary layer the key developmental site.