NURS 2030: HygieneNURS 2030
Hygiene Mastery: Build Confidence in
Foundational Nursing Skills
Body's physical barriers ✔✔Defensive system that prevents pathogens from entering the body;
includes skin, hair, nails, glands, and mucous membranes.
Integumentary system ✔✔Made up of skin, hair, nails, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands;
protects against pathogens and outside environment.
Mucous membranes ✔✔Found in the mouth, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tracts;
secrete mucus to trap pathogens and block invasion.
Skin ✔✔Largest organ of the body; first line of defense; provides physical barrier and contains
Langerhans cells to kill pathogens.
Pathogens ✔✔Organisms that cause disease in humans, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and
parasites.
Langerhans cells ✔✔Specialized skin cells that detect and destroy pathogens attempting to
enter the body.
Epidermis ✔✔Outermost skin layer made of squamous epithelial cells; avascular; provides
strength and protection.
Dermis ✔✔Layer beneath epidermis with connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels; gives
skin strength, elasticity, and sensory function.
, Hypodermis (subcutaneous layer) ✔✔Beneath the dermis; contains adipose tissue for
cushioning, insulation, and fat storage.
Function of mucous secretion ✔✔Traps pathogens and particles, preventing them from
reaching deeper tissues.
Function of cilia in nasal mucous membranes ✔✔Trap inhaled particles and push them to the
nose or throat to be expelled by coughing or sneezing.
Teeth functions ✔✔Chew food, support facial structure, aid speech, and resist
plaque/pathogens with enamel.
Enamel ✔✔Hardest material in the body; coats teeth to protect against plaque, acids, and
bacteria.
Dentin ✔✔Layer beneath enamel that protects the pulp of the tooth.
Dental pulp ✔✔Core of the tooth containing blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue;
provides nutrients.
Nails ✔✔Layers of keratin that protect fingers and toes; cuticle and pterygium serve as barriers
against infection.
Cuticle ✔✔Epidermal tissue at base and sides of nail plate; connects skin and nail to block
infection.
Pterygium ✔✔Membrane beneath cuticle that adds another layer of pathogen protection.
Hygiene Mastery: Build Confidence in
Foundational Nursing Skills
Body's physical barriers ✔✔Defensive system that prevents pathogens from entering the body;
includes skin, hair, nails, glands, and mucous membranes.
Integumentary system ✔✔Made up of skin, hair, nails, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands;
protects against pathogens and outside environment.
Mucous membranes ✔✔Found in the mouth, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tracts;
secrete mucus to trap pathogens and block invasion.
Skin ✔✔Largest organ of the body; first line of defense; provides physical barrier and contains
Langerhans cells to kill pathogens.
Pathogens ✔✔Organisms that cause disease in humans, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and
parasites.
Langerhans cells ✔✔Specialized skin cells that detect and destroy pathogens attempting to
enter the body.
Epidermis ✔✔Outermost skin layer made of squamous epithelial cells; avascular; provides
strength and protection.
Dermis ✔✔Layer beneath epidermis with connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels; gives
skin strength, elasticity, and sensory function.
, Hypodermis (subcutaneous layer) ✔✔Beneath the dermis; contains adipose tissue for
cushioning, insulation, and fat storage.
Function of mucous secretion ✔✔Traps pathogens and particles, preventing them from
reaching deeper tissues.
Function of cilia in nasal mucous membranes ✔✔Trap inhaled particles and push them to the
nose or throat to be expelled by coughing or sneezing.
Teeth functions ✔✔Chew food, support facial structure, aid speech, and resist
plaque/pathogens with enamel.
Enamel ✔✔Hardest material in the body; coats teeth to protect against plaque, acids, and
bacteria.
Dentin ✔✔Layer beneath enamel that protects the pulp of the tooth.
Dental pulp ✔✔Core of the tooth containing blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue;
provides nutrients.
Nails ✔✔Layers of keratin that protect fingers and toes; cuticle and pterygium serve as barriers
against infection.
Cuticle ✔✔Epidermal tissue at base and sides of nail plate; connects skin and nail to block
infection.
Pterygium ✔✔Membrane beneath cuticle that adds another layer of pathogen protection.
