Anatomy of Skin & Hair Flashcards
7 cards from real CPS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Anatomy of Skin & Hair flashcards as text
What causes the coat color pattern in a dog with a banded or agouti hair shaft?
Answer: Alternating zones of eumelanin and phaeomelanin within each hair
Agouti banding occurs when each individual hair shaft contains alternating segments of dark eumelanin and yellow/red phaeomelanin, creating a wild-type ticked appearance.
Which layer of the hair cuticle arrangement do shampoo products most directly affect during bathing?
Answer: The cuticle scales
Shampoos and conditioners interact with the overlapping cuticle scales; alkaline products lift scales while acidic conditioners smooth and flatten them, affecting shine and manageability.
A dog presenting with symmetrical hair loss over the flanks and trunk but no itching most likely has a disorder affecting which phase of the hair cycle?
Answer: Telogen (resting phase)
Hormonal or endocrine conditions often arrest follicles in telogen, causing diffuse, non-pruritic alopecia that is bilaterally symmetrical.
Seborrhea sicca in dogs is characterized by which skin presentation?
Answer: Dry, flaky skin with excessive scaling and dandruff
Seborrhea sicca ('dry seborrhea') presents with dry, scaly skin resulting from abnormal keratinization and insufficient sebum production.
What is the role of Langerhans cells found in the epidermis?
Answer: Act as immune surveillance cells that detect skin antigens
Langerhans cells are dendritic immune cells in the epidermis that capture antigens, migrate to lymph nodes, and initiate immune responses, including allergic reactions.
Which of the following best describes a compound hair follicle, common in dogs?
Answer: A follicle unit housing one primary hair surrounded by several secondary hairs
Compound follicles (also called follicular units) consist of one central primary (guard) hair flanked by multiple secondary hairs sharing a common pore, enabling dense double coats.
The hypodermis (subcutis) layer of skin serves which PRIMARY function relevant to pet grooming safety?
Answer: Acting as insulation, energy storage, and a cushion protecting underlying tissues
The hypodermis stores fat for thermal insulation and energy, and its cushioning role means shaving too deeply (clipper injury) can expose or damage this layer.