Question

despite its apparent durability, the dermis is subject to tearing. how might a person know that the dermis has been previously stretched and/or torn?

a - the appearance of visible, silvery-white scars is an indication of stretching of the dermis.
b - there is an episode of acute pain due to the large number of tactile corpuscles.
c - the blood vessels in the dermis rupture and the blood passes through the tissue, causing permanent blue marks.
d - the stretching causes the tension lines to disappear.

Explanation:

Analyze the question prompt

The question asks how a person might know that their dermis has been previously stretched and/or torn. We need to evaluate the physiological consequences of dermal stretching and tearing.

Evaluate Option A

Using the Integumentary System Anatomy knowledge point, extreme stretching of the skin can tear the collagen fibers in the dermis. This dermal tearing results in silvery-white scars called striae, commonly known as stretch marks. This matches Option A.

Evaluate Option B

Tactile corpuscles (Meissner's corpuscles) are receptors for light touch located in the dermal papillae. Tearing of the dermis does not cause acute pain specifically due to tactile corpuscles, as pain is detected by free nerve endings (nociceptors). Thus, Option B is incorrect.

Evaluate Option C

While blood vessels in the dermis can rupture (causing a bruise or hematoma), this blood is eventually cleared by macrophages and does not cause permanent blue marks. Thus, Option C is incorrect.

Evaluate Option D

Tension lines (Cleavage lines) are formed by the principal direction of collagen fibers in the reticular dermis. Stretching does not cause these structural lines to disappear. Thus, Option D is incorrect.

Answer:

• (A) The appearance of visible, silvery-white scars is an indication of stretching of the dermis. (Correct answer)
• (B) There is an episode of acute pain due to the large number of tactile corpuscles.
• (C) The blood vessels in the dermis rupture and the blood passes through the tissue, causing permanent blue marks.
• (D) The stretching causes the tension lines to disappear.