cutaneous edema

Examples of cutaneous edema in the following topics:

• Edema

  • Causes of edema which are generalized to the whole body can cause edema in multiple organs and peripherally.
  • For example, severe heart failure can cause pulmonary edema, pleural effusions, ascites, and peripheral edema.
  • Cutaneous edema is referred to as pitting when, after pressure is applied to a small area, the indentation persists for some time after the release of the pressure.
  • Examples of edema in specific organs include cerebral edema, pulmonary edema, periorbital edema (eye puffiness), and cutaneous edema due to mosquito bites, spider bites, bee stings, or contact dermatitis).
  • Another cutaneous form of edema is myxedema, which is caused by increased deposition of connective tissue.

• Pulmonary Edema

  • Pulmonary edema is fluid accumulation in the air spaces and parenchyma of the lungs.
  • It is due to either failure of the left ventricle of the heart to adequately remove blood from the pulmonary circulation ("cardiogenic pulmonary edema") or an injury to the lung parenchyma or vasculature of the lung ("noncardiogenic pulmonary edema").
  • Pulmonary edema, especially in the acute setting, can lead to respiratory failure, cardiac arrest due to hypoxia, and death.
  • There is no one single test for confirming that breathlessness is caused by pulmonary edema.
  • Interstitial and alveolar pulmonary edema with small pleural effusions on both sides.

• Edema Caused by Loss of Plasma Proteins

  • It is characterized by proteinuria (>3.5g/day), hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and edema (which is generalized and also known as anasarca or dropsy).
  • The edema begins in the face .
  • Peripheral pitting edema results from water retention.

• Effects of Aging on the Integumentary System

  • Intrinsic and extrinsic aging describe cutaneous aging of the integumentary system primarily involving the dermis.
  • Intrinsic aging and extrinsic aging are terms used to describe cutaneous aging of the skin and other parts of the integumentary system.
  • It is defined as cutaneous damage caused by chronic exposure to solar radiation and is associated with emergence of neoplastic (cancer) lesions.

• What is Skin?

  • The cutaneous membrane is the technical term for our skin.

• Cervical Plexus

  • The cervical plexus has two types of branches: cutaneous and muscular.
  • The lesser occipital nerve, or small occipital nerve, is a cutaneous spinal nerve that arises between the second and third cervical vertebrae, along with the greater occipital nerve.
  • The transverse cervical nerve (superficial cervical or cutaneous cervical) arises from the second and third cervical nerves, turns around the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoideus about its middle, then passes obliquely forward beneath the external jugular vein to the anterior border of the muscle, where it perforates the deep cervical fascia and divides beneath the platysma into ascending and descending branches that are distributed to the antero-lateral parts of the neck.

• Functions of the Lymphatic System

  • Fluid removal from tissues prevents the development of edema.
  • Edema is any type of tissue swelling from increased flow of interstitial fluid into tissues relative to fluid drainage.
  • While edema is a normal component of the inflammation process, in some cases it can be very harmful.
  • Cerebral and pulmonary edema are especially problematic, which is why lymph drainage is so important.
  • Abnormal edema can still occur if the drainage components of the lymph vessels are obstructed.

• Cutaneous Sensation

• Tactile Sensation

  • Cutaneous mechanoreceptors are located in the skin, like other cutaneous receptors.

• Classification of Receptors by Stimulus

  • Cutaneous receptors are sensory receptors found in the dermis or epidermis.
  • Encapsulated receptors consist of the remaining types of cutaneous receptors.