SEM 580 MODULE 1 EXAM QUESTIONS WELL ANSWERED LATEST UPDATE 2026
T/F: The stratum basale is able to regenerate - Answers
Who were the founders of WOC nursing and what was their relationship? - Answers Norma Gill-
Thompson (an ostomy patient), and Dr. Rupert Turnbull Jr. (her surgeon)
Where was the first WOC Nursing Education Program Located? What scope of practice? - Answers
The Cleveland Clinic; enterostomal therapy
How did the scopes in WOCN evolve? - Answers The first specialists were enterostomal
patients/family members.
What is the difference between WOCN and CWOCN? - Answers WOCN is the name of a society and is
trademarked.
CWOCN is the Certified Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse.
What is the epidermis' function (s)? - Answers The epidermis is avascular, has a brick-and-mortar
structure, serves as the skin's protective layer, has an acid mantle, and synthesizes vitamin D.
T/F : The epidermis is able to regenerate - Answers True
What is the stratum basale's function? - Answers The innermost layer of the epidermis, has
reproductive functions. The stratum basale contains keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Merkel cells.
What is the BMZ? - Answers The Basement Membrane Zone separates the epidermis from the
dermis. It contains rete ridges that help anchor cells to the second layer of the epidermis. The rete
pegs are fingerlike extensions that anchor the epidermis to the dermis like a zipper, and adds
mechanical strength and reduces risk of skin tears. These flatten with age and there is reduced
cohesion in age extremes.
Renewal of the epidermis occurs every ____ to _____ days - Answers 26-42
This type of cell comprises 80% of the epidermis. - Answers Keratinocytes
What is cornification? - Answers The process of epidermal cells filling with keratin and moving to the
surface of the epidermis to form a durable waterproof layer
T/F: The BMZ is able to regenerate - Answers
What is the function of rete ridges? - Answers Gives skin the ability to resist abrasion and friction -
downward projections of epidermis that interlock with the dermis .
T/F: Rete ridges are able to regenerate - Answers
What are dermal papillae? - Answers upward projections that interconnect with downward
projections from the basal layer of the epidermis.
T/F: The dermal papillae are able to regenerate - Answers False
What is the function of the reticular dermis? - Answers Forms the base of the dermis with thick,
cable-like fibers (most connective tissue proteins). Contains collagen and elastin fibers that are thicker
and larger. Increased amount of blood vessels. Scars will form is this tissue is damaged or lost.
T/F: The reticular dermis is able to regenerate - Answers False
What is the function of the papillary dermis? - Answers Supplies oxygen and nutrients to the
epidermis. Has upward projections (dermal papillae) that interconnect with the downward
projections of the basal layer of the epidermis.
Contains lymphatic vessels to help with interstitial fluid management.
When the epidermis is healing, this superficial part of the dermis helps with regeneration.
T/F: The papillary dermis is able to regenerate - Answers true
What is the function of the hypodermis? - Answers subcutaneous tissue (stores fat, is vascularized,
and has connective tissue), anchors the dermis to underlying structures, cushions, insulates, and adds
to mobility of skin over underlying structures.
T/F: The hypodermis is able to regenerate - Answers False
What is the function of a keratinocyte? - Answers produce keratin
Where are keratinocytes located? - Answers stratum basale of the epidermis
What is the function of fibroblasts? - Answers Fibroblasts secrete the fibers (collagen) and ground
substance of the extracellular matrix.
Where are fibroblasts located? - Answers papillary dermis
What is ground substance? - Answers Other proteins found in the space between collagen and elastin
fibers.
Where are collagen, elastin proteins, nerves, connective tissue, vasculature, hair follicles, sweat and
sebaceous glands located? - Answers The dermis
, What 3 cells in the dermis are used for immune surveillance? - Answers Mast cells, macrophages,
lymphocytes
What is the function of myofibroblasts? - Answers Contract the tissues in response to a wound to
make it easier to heal
Where are myofibroblasts located? - Answers papillary dermis
What is the function of melanocytes? - Answers produce the pigment melanin
Where are melanocytes located? - Answers stratum basale of the epidermis
What is the function of mast cells? - Answers immune surveillance, histamine release
Where are mast cells located? - Answers dermis
What is the function of langerhans cells? - Answers Recognize and present antigens to signal T
lymphocytes. They help assist the skin's immune system.
Where are langerhans cells located? - Answers stratum spinosum of the epidermis
Where are corneocytes located? - Answers stratum corneum
The __________ may be damaged by shear, blister formation, and burns that result in the epidermis
detaching from the dermis. - Answers Basement Membrane Zone (BMZ)
Where are translucent keratinocytes located? - Answers Stratum lucidium
What are desmosomes? - Answers they join two cells at a single point attaching directly to the
cytoskeleton
Where are desmosomes located? - Answers stratum spinosum
What is the function of collagen? - Answers Connective tissue, tensile strength, withstands stress
_________ soften skin and provide lipids. (silicone, dimethicone, lanolin, ceramides) - Answers
Emollients
_______ add water to dry skin (urea, lactic acid, glycerin, alpha hydroxy acids) - Answers Humectants
What part of the dermis is also involved in regeneration of a healing epidermis? - Answers The
superficial dermis
Where do new epithelial cells come from? - Answers The BMZ/stratum basale
What are ceramides? - Answers family of lipid materials that are part of the intercellular matrix
___________ is defined as the quantity of water that passes through the epidermis to the
surrounding atmosphere via diffusion or evaporation. - Answers TEWL
Where on the skin are the highest pH values observed? - Answers In the most hydrated areas - skin
folds.
What layer of tissue is most prone to deep tissue injuries/pressure injuries?____ - Answers Muscle
Where is collagen located? - Answers dermis
What is the function of elastin? - Answers Allows stretching and recoiling in tissue w/o damage
Where are keratinocytes with dark granules located? - Answers Stratum granulosum
Where is elastin located? - Answers dermis
What is the function of Merkel Cells? - Answers Provide tactile reception, produce nerve growth
factor
Where are Merkel cells located? - Answers Distributed in rete ridges among basal keratinocytes
What is the function of sweat glands? (eccrine and apocrine) - Answers thermoregulation
Pilosebaceous unit, sweat glands, and nails reside where? - Answers dermis and hypodermis
6 comorbid conditions that affect the skin - Answers - diabetes
- smoking
- obesity
- steroids
- chemo and radiation
- poor nutrition
Explain the normal skin function/structure of neonates. What other factors affect the skin? (4) -
Answers - Increased permeability of the skin = greater risk of systemic absorption of products
- Skin changes from alkaline to acidic within 4 days after birth
- Increased risk of skin tears due to decreased cohesion of the epidermal/dermal layers
- Increased risk for pressure injuries on the back of the head.
Explain the normal skin function/structure of those with advanced age. What other factors affect the
skin? - Answers - Renewal of epidermal layer takes almost twice as long as it would in a young adult
- Rete ridges flatten, decreasing cohesion of layers, increasing risk of skin tears
- dermal layer has decreased function
- dry skin and sensory function decreases
T/F: The stratum basale is able to regenerate - Answers
Who were the founders of WOC nursing and what was their relationship? - Answers Norma Gill-
Thompson (an ostomy patient), and Dr. Rupert Turnbull Jr. (her surgeon)
Where was the first WOC Nursing Education Program Located? What scope of practice? - Answers
The Cleveland Clinic; enterostomal therapy
How did the scopes in WOCN evolve? - Answers The first specialists were enterostomal
patients/family members.
What is the difference between WOCN and CWOCN? - Answers WOCN is the name of a society and is
trademarked.
CWOCN is the Certified Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse.
What is the epidermis' function (s)? - Answers The epidermis is avascular, has a brick-and-mortar
structure, serves as the skin's protective layer, has an acid mantle, and synthesizes vitamin D.
T/F : The epidermis is able to regenerate - Answers True
What is the stratum basale's function? - Answers The innermost layer of the epidermis, has
reproductive functions. The stratum basale contains keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Merkel cells.
What is the BMZ? - Answers The Basement Membrane Zone separates the epidermis from the
dermis. It contains rete ridges that help anchor cells to the second layer of the epidermis. The rete
pegs are fingerlike extensions that anchor the epidermis to the dermis like a zipper, and adds
mechanical strength and reduces risk of skin tears. These flatten with age and there is reduced
cohesion in age extremes.
Renewal of the epidermis occurs every ____ to _____ days - Answers 26-42
This type of cell comprises 80% of the epidermis. - Answers Keratinocytes
What is cornification? - Answers The process of epidermal cells filling with keratin and moving to the
surface of the epidermis to form a durable waterproof layer
T/F: The BMZ is able to regenerate - Answers
What is the function of rete ridges? - Answers Gives skin the ability to resist abrasion and friction -
downward projections of epidermis that interlock with the dermis .
T/F: Rete ridges are able to regenerate - Answers
What are dermal papillae? - Answers upward projections that interconnect with downward
projections from the basal layer of the epidermis.
T/F: The dermal papillae are able to regenerate - Answers False
What is the function of the reticular dermis? - Answers Forms the base of the dermis with thick,
cable-like fibers (most connective tissue proteins). Contains collagen and elastin fibers that are thicker
and larger. Increased amount of blood vessels. Scars will form is this tissue is damaged or lost.
T/F: The reticular dermis is able to regenerate - Answers False
What is the function of the papillary dermis? - Answers Supplies oxygen and nutrients to the
epidermis. Has upward projections (dermal papillae) that interconnect with the downward
projections of the basal layer of the epidermis.
Contains lymphatic vessels to help with interstitial fluid management.
When the epidermis is healing, this superficial part of the dermis helps with regeneration.
T/F: The papillary dermis is able to regenerate - Answers true
What is the function of the hypodermis? - Answers subcutaneous tissue (stores fat, is vascularized,
and has connective tissue), anchors the dermis to underlying structures, cushions, insulates, and adds
to mobility of skin over underlying structures.
T/F: The hypodermis is able to regenerate - Answers False
What is the function of a keratinocyte? - Answers produce keratin
Where are keratinocytes located? - Answers stratum basale of the epidermis
What is the function of fibroblasts? - Answers Fibroblasts secrete the fibers (collagen) and ground
substance of the extracellular matrix.
Where are fibroblasts located? - Answers papillary dermis
What is ground substance? - Answers Other proteins found in the space between collagen and elastin
fibers.
Where are collagen, elastin proteins, nerves, connective tissue, vasculature, hair follicles, sweat and
sebaceous glands located? - Answers The dermis
, What 3 cells in the dermis are used for immune surveillance? - Answers Mast cells, macrophages,
lymphocytes
What is the function of myofibroblasts? - Answers Contract the tissues in response to a wound to
make it easier to heal
Where are myofibroblasts located? - Answers papillary dermis
What is the function of melanocytes? - Answers produce the pigment melanin
Where are melanocytes located? - Answers stratum basale of the epidermis
What is the function of mast cells? - Answers immune surveillance, histamine release
Where are mast cells located? - Answers dermis
What is the function of langerhans cells? - Answers Recognize and present antigens to signal T
lymphocytes. They help assist the skin's immune system.
Where are langerhans cells located? - Answers stratum spinosum of the epidermis
Where are corneocytes located? - Answers stratum corneum
The __________ may be damaged by shear, blister formation, and burns that result in the epidermis
detaching from the dermis. - Answers Basement Membrane Zone (BMZ)
Where are translucent keratinocytes located? - Answers Stratum lucidium
What are desmosomes? - Answers they join two cells at a single point attaching directly to the
cytoskeleton
Where are desmosomes located? - Answers stratum spinosum
What is the function of collagen? - Answers Connective tissue, tensile strength, withstands stress
_________ soften skin and provide lipids. (silicone, dimethicone, lanolin, ceramides) - Answers
Emollients
_______ add water to dry skin (urea, lactic acid, glycerin, alpha hydroxy acids) - Answers Humectants
What part of the dermis is also involved in regeneration of a healing epidermis? - Answers The
superficial dermis
Where do new epithelial cells come from? - Answers The BMZ/stratum basale
What are ceramides? - Answers family of lipid materials that are part of the intercellular matrix
___________ is defined as the quantity of water that passes through the epidermis to the
surrounding atmosphere via diffusion or evaporation. - Answers TEWL
Where on the skin are the highest pH values observed? - Answers In the most hydrated areas - skin
folds.
What layer of tissue is most prone to deep tissue injuries/pressure injuries?____ - Answers Muscle
Where is collagen located? - Answers dermis
What is the function of elastin? - Answers Allows stretching and recoiling in tissue w/o damage
Where are keratinocytes with dark granules located? - Answers Stratum granulosum
Where is elastin located? - Answers dermis
What is the function of Merkel Cells? - Answers Provide tactile reception, produce nerve growth
factor
Where are Merkel cells located? - Answers Distributed in rete ridges among basal keratinocytes
What is the function of sweat glands? (eccrine and apocrine) - Answers thermoregulation
Pilosebaceous unit, sweat glands, and nails reside where? - Answers dermis and hypodermis
6 comorbid conditions that affect the skin - Answers - diabetes
- smoking
- obesity
- steroids
- chemo and radiation
- poor nutrition
Explain the normal skin function/structure of neonates. What other factors affect the skin? (4) -
Answers - Increased permeability of the skin = greater risk of systemic absorption of products
- Skin changes from alkaline to acidic within 4 days after birth
- Increased risk of skin tears due to decreased cohesion of the epidermal/dermal layers
- Increased risk for pressure injuries on the back of the head.
Explain the normal skin function/structure of those with advanced age. What other factors affect the
skin? - Answers - Renewal of epidermal layer takes almost twice as long as it would in a young adult
- Rete ridges flatten, decreasing cohesion of layers, increasing risk of skin tears
- dermal layer has decreased function
- dry skin and sensory function decreases
