Concept explainers
To tell:
The reason for the inhospitable surface of the skin for most microbes.
Introduction:
Skin is flexible, marvelous, tough membrane. It is also known as “cutaneous membrane”. The function of the skin is to prevent the body from dehydration, regulation of internal body temperature through sweat production and constriction and dilation of the blood vessels.
Explanation of Solution
The skin has many chemical and physical properties that allow it to be a significant barrier against microbial invasion. It limits the disease and infections unless it has been broken, burned, cut, or wounded in some other way.
The surface of the skin is inhospitable for microbes due to sweat and oil production. After the evaporation of sweat, the salt remains that act as antimicrobial also the sebum (oil) from the sebaceous gland act as antimicrobial, preventing the microbial growth.
Thus, the outmost layer of the skin is made up of keratinized cells which are covered with salt and oil acting as a significant barrier to the invasion of the microbes.
The surface of the sin is an inhospitable environment for the growth of the microbes due to the presence of the salt and the oil that act as a barrier.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 19 Solutions
Microbiology with Diseases by Body System (5th Edition)
- Should one be concerned to find bacteria on the skin? How about molds? Explain.arrow_forwardPropionibacterium acnes is a normal member of the skin microbiome that benefits the body by lowering the skin's pH- an antimicrobial effect. However, P. acnes is also the leading cause of acne. Explain mechanistically how can a bacterium be normal and beneficial but also be pathogenic?arrow_forwardWhat chemicals produced in the skin help provide barriers to bacteria? List at least three and explain how the chemicals are protective.arrow_forward
- why is it important that you disinfect your work area both before and after working with bacteria?arrow_forwardPropionibacterium acnes is a normal member of the skin microbiome that benefits the body by lowering the skin's pH- an antimicrobial effect. However, P. acnes is also the leading cause of acne. Explain mechanistically how can a bacterium be part of the normal microbiome and beneficial but also be pathogenic?arrow_forwardOur environment contains masses of microorganisms, many of which reside as commensal organisms on our body’s mucosal and epithelial surfaces without causing disease. What two features distinguish a pathogenic microbe from these commensal microbes?arrow_forward
- Which key feature of the bacterium Bacillus anthracisallows this organism to persist for extended periods onanimal hides or other environments where growth maynot occur? Which form of anthrax is the most serious?arrow_forwardDirect contact with pathogenic microorganisms is the most common cause of hospital-acquired infection. How might a dermal (skin) Staphylococcus infection of a staff member result in a urinary traction infection of a patient? Describe possible pathways of contamination during a normal workday.arrow_forwardWhy is an organism such as Staphylococcus adapted to growth on the human skin whereas the streptococci are generally not?arrow_forward
- When virulent bacteria invade an organism, they usually inflict damage to it. Can you assess the different means a bacterium may use to affect the integrity of the host in detail?arrow_forwardBesides bacteria, what other types of microorganisms are commonly found on human skin? Give some specific examples of skin microbiotaarrow_forwardRelaman has suffered from high fever and Doctor diagnosed it as Typhoid which microorganism infected Rehman ?arrow_forward