Anatomy, Physiology, and Disorders of Hair and Skin
Anatomy, Physiology, and Disorders of Hair and Skin
This domain tests the structures you touch and the conditions you must recognize but not treat.
Core rules
- Skull bones: frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital; facial bones include zygomatic and mandible.
- Muscles: frontalis raises brows; temporalis and masseter are chewing muscles; occipitalis pulls the scalp back.
- Nerves: trigeminal is sensory for the face; facial is motor for the face; know locations for massage.
- Hair growth: anagen, growth; catagen, transition; telogen, rest; shedding is normal.
- Disorders: alopecia areata is patchy and noncontagious; tinea capitis is contagious fungal; pediculosis is lice; seborrheic dermatitis is oily scaling.
Worked example
A client has a round, smooth bald patch with no scaling. This suggests alopecia areata, which is noncontagious but medical; do not treat, refer to a physician. If the patch were scaly and broken, suspect tinea and refer before service.
Traps
Treating a contagious condition; massaging over a recent injury; confusing normal shedding with hair loss; and calling all dandruff dry scalp.