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Esthetician (NIC Theory Exam) · Scientific Concepts

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Esthetician (NIC Theory Exam) Anatomy and Physiology Summary

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About 11 of 55 Scientific Concepts questions (20%)

Cells, tissues, the layers of the skin, and the muscles and nerves of the face.

📖 See Anatomy and Physiology concepts →

Anatomy and Physiology: must-know points

  • Cells form tissues, tissues form organs, and organs form body systems.
  • The epidermis is the outer layer; the dermis holds blood vessels, nerves, and glands.
  • Melanin gives skin its color and helps protect it from UV light.
  • The trigeminal nerve is the chief sensory nerve of the face.

Anatomy and Physiology: 10 sample questions

Practice questionReviewedScientific Concepts › Anatomy and Physiology★★★★☆

Question 1. What is the basic unit of all living things?

  1. ① The tissue
  2. ② The organ
  3. ③ The gland
  4. ④ The cell
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Answer: ④ The cell

Key point: Cell = basic unit of life

All living things are made of cells. Cells group into tissues, tissues into organs, and organs into systems.

Wrong choices

  • The tissue: A tissue is a group of cells.
  • The organ: An organ is made of several tissues.
  • The gland: A gland is an organ that makes a substance.
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Question 2. What is the outermost layer of the skin?

  1. ① The dermis
  2. ② The epidermis
  3. ③ The subcutaneous layer
  4. ④ The papillary layer
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Answer: ② The epidermis

Key point: Epidermis is the outer layer

The epidermis is the thin outer layer you can see. It protects the body and has no blood vessels.

Wrong choices

  • The dermis: The dermis lies under the epidermis.
  • The subcutaneous layer: The subcutaneous layer lies under the dermis.
  • The papillary layer: The papillary layer is the upper part of the dermis.
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Question 3. Which pigment gives skin its color and helps protect it from UV light?

  1. ① Melanin
  2. ② Keratin
  3. ③ Collagen
  4. ④ Elastin
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Answer: ① Melanin

Key point: Melanin = skin pigment

Melanin is made by cells called melanocytes. More melanin means darker skin and more natural protection from the sun.

Wrong choices

  • Keratin: Keratin is a hard protein in skin, hair, and nails.
  • Collagen: Collagen gives skin firmness.
  • Elastin: Elastin gives skin stretch.
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Question 4. Which layer of the skin holds blood vessels, nerves, oil glands, and hair follicles?

  1. ① The epidermis
  2. ② The stratum corneum
  3. ③ The dermis
  4. ④ The stratum lucidum
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Answer: ③ The dermis

Key point: Dermis holds vessels, nerves, glands

The dermis is the thick inner layer called the true skin. It feeds the epidermis and holds glands and follicles.

Wrong choices

  • The epidermis: The epidermis has no blood vessels.
  • The stratum corneum: The stratum corneum is the outer dead-cell layer of the epidermis.
  • The stratum lucidum: The stratum lucidum is a thin clear layer of the epidermis.
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Question 5. Which layer of the epidermis is where new cells are made by cell division?

  1. ① The stratum corneum
  2. ② The stratum lucidum
  3. ③ The stratum granulosum
  4. ④ The basal layer (stratum germinativum)
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Answer: ④ The basal layer (stratum germinativum)

Key point: New skin cells form in the basal layer

The deepest epidermal layer makes new cells. They move upward and become flat, dead cells at the surface.

Wrong choices

  • The stratum corneum: The stratum corneum is the outer layer of dead cells.
  • The stratum lucidum: The stratum lucidum is a clear layer in thick skin.
  • The stratum granulosum: The stratum granulosum is where cells begin to harden and die.
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Question 6. What do you call a group of similar cells that do the same job?

  1. ① An organ
  2. ② A system
  3. ③ A tissue
  4. ④ A nucleus
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Answer: ③ A tissue

Key point: Similar cells together = tissue

A tissue is made of similar cells doing one job. Muscle tissue is one example.

Wrong choices

  • An organ: An organ combines different tissues.
  • A system: A system is a group of organs.
  • A nucleus: The nucleus is a part inside a cell.
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Question 7. Which fibers give skin its ability to stretch and spring back?

  1. ① Elastin
  2. ② Collagen
  3. ③ Keratin
  4. ④ Melanin
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Answer: ① Elastin

Key point: Elastin = stretch and recoil

Elastin fibers let the skin stretch and return to shape. They weaken with age and sun damage.

Wrong choices

  • Collagen: Collagen gives firmness and strength.
  • Keratin: Keratin forms the hard outer layer, hair, and nails.
  • Melanin: Melanin is the skin pigment.
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Question 8. Which part of a cell is its control center?

  1. ① The nucleus
  2. ② The cytoplasm
  3. ③ The cell membrane
  4. ④ The skin
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Answer: ① The nucleus

Key point: Nucleus = control center

The nucleus holds the genetic material and directs the cell's activity.

Wrong choices

  • The cytoplasm: The cytoplasm is the jelly-like fluid that holds the parts of the cell.
  • The cell membrane: The cell membrane is the outer boundary.
  • The skin: The skin is an organ, not a part of a cell.
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Question 9. Which of these is NOT a function of the skin?

  1. ① Protection
  2. ② Heat regulation
  3. ③ Digesting food
  4. ④ Sensation
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Answer: ③ Digesting food

Key point: Skin does not digest food

The skin protects, senses, regulates heat, and excretes some waste through sweat. It does not digest food.

Wrong choices

  • Protection: Protection from germs and injury is a skin function.
  • Heat regulation: Sweating helps regulate body heat.
  • Sensation: Nerve endings give the skin its sense of touch.
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Question 10. Which cranial nerve is the chief sensory nerve of the face?

  1. ① The facial nerve
  2. ② The accessory nerve
  3. ③ The trigeminal nerve (fifth cranial nerve)
  4. ④ The zygomatic nerve
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Answer: ③ The trigeminal nerve (fifth cranial nerve)

Key point: Trigeminal = main face sensation

The trigeminal nerve carries sensation from the face and also helps control chewing.

Wrong choices

  • The facial nerve: The facial nerve mainly controls facial muscle movement.
  • The accessory nerve: The accessory nerve controls neck and shoulder muscles.
  • The zygomatic nerve: The zygomatic nerve is a smaller branch near the cheek.

Test yourself.

Anatomy and Physiology: 5 questions →Scientific Concepts: 5 questions →