1. The Skin and Its Parts Case Study Solution

2. What information about skin disease and aging is useful to better understand the nature of the sore? Was the sore a result of pathology or injury? Why was the dermis exposed? The sore also appeared to be old because of the dark scarring around it. Why would such an “ugly” sore not cause any pain sensation? Could it be an old burn that never healed because of the woman’s ill health? Would rigorous exercise cause this sore to get better or worse?

3. Was the sore a result of pathology or injury? The sore was due to the decline of blood vessel integrity associated with prolonged or untreated diabetes. Obesity and high blood sugar are good indicators of this condition.

4. Why was the dermis exposed? Continuous high blood-sugar levels cause smaller blood vessels in the skin to break down. This significantly affects the skin’s ability to produce the epidermis needed to replace the stratum corneum that naturally sheds and is removed by physical damage. It is very typical for the skin of diabetes patients to form long-lasting sores.

5. What information about skin disease and aging is useful to better understand the nature of the sore? Elderly people are much more likely to develop sores like this due to the natural decrease in blood flow that occurs with aging.

6. Would rigorous exercise cause this sore to get better or worse? The woman’s exercise program should include routines that reduce weight and increase blood flow. However, the inflexible skin over the sore could cause some movement restrictions. Strenuous activities should be avoided because stress on the body reduces the immune response and would slow healing of the sore.

7. Increasing the amount of protein in the diet may help to keep the sore from becoming worse. The extra protein assists the immune system and provides the stratum germinativum with the amino acids needed for an adequate rate of mitosis.