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Epidermal Layers
Stratum basale/germinativum Stratum spinosum Stratum granulosum Stratum lucidum Stratum corneum No vessels in epidermis
Stratum Basale/Germinativum
Cuboidal cells attached to basal lamina Mitotic, epidermal stem cells 15-30 day turnover for cell to go through all layers Basophilic Merkel cells and melanocytes in this layer also
Stratum Spinosum
Cuboidal, polygonal or squamous cells Cytoplasm has many keratin filaments Cytoplasmic extensions with desmosomes Greatly thickened in palmar and plantar skin; high friction areas Some mitotic cells in basal part
Stratum Granulosum
3-5 layers of polygonal cells with central nuclei and many basophilic granules Keratohyalin granules contain proteins that bind keratin filaments together Membrane coating granules also present; secrete to extracellular matrix to make it more waterproof Thickened plasma membrane
Stratum Lucidum
More common in thick skin Not present in all species Thin, translucent lightly stained layer of non-nucleated cells Different arrangement of filaments
Stratum Corneum
15-20 layers in thick skin 3-4 layers in thin skin Flattened non-nucleated cells filled with keratin filaments Surface cells constantly sloughed off
Thick skin (glabrous): palms and soles of feet, nonhairy Thin skin: hairy Thickness varies: 75-150 m in thin skin; 400-600 m in thick skin Total skin thickness (epidermis + dermis) varies also: 4 mm back, 1.5 mm scalp
Stratum corneum
Stratum lucidum
Stratum spinosum
Stratum germinativum Stratum basale
Epidermis 1
Epidermal derivatives include hair, nails, sebaceous and sweat glands Melanin produced by epidermal cells protects from UV light Stratified squamous keratinized epithelium with keratinocytes, melanocytes, Merkel cells and Langerhans cells
Figure 5.2b
Melanocyte cells
pale cells with brown granules melanin forms from tyrosine deficient melanin production leads to albinism melanin granules transferred to keratinocytes in stratum basale and stratum spinosum granules migrate to supranuclear position to protect DNA from UV light
Merkel Cells
Pale cells in stratum basale More numerous in palmar and plantar skin Sensory receptors for touch sensation
Langerhans Cells
Star-shaped cells that can be stained with a special gold stain Contain Birbecks granules Function in immune response by presenting cutaneous antigens to epidermal lymphoid cells Originate from bone marrow stem cells
Dermis
Connective tissue support for epidermis Dermal papillae common in skin exposed to friction Specialized thickened basal lamina with network of reticular fibers Papillary layer: thin, loose conn. tiss., vessels, mast cells Reticular layer: thicker, mostly dense irregular conn. tiss.; more collagen bundles and fewer fibroblasts
Dermis Features
Hair follicles, sweat and sebaceous glands, all epidermal structures penetrate into the dermis Many sensory nerves in skin (touch, pain, temperature sensation) Sympathetic vasoconstrictor fibers, piloerector fibers and sudomotor fibers
Hypodermis
Subcutaneous tissue Loose connective tissue attaches skin to subjacent organs and tissues Loose flexible attachment so skin can slide over organs Many unilocular adipocytes
Meissners corpuscles in dermal papillae (touch) Pacinian corpuscles in deep dermis, hypodermis, and mesenteries (touch) Free nerve endings common in dermis and around hair follicles (touch, pain, temperature)
Dermis Features
Network of elastic fibers Elasticity decreases with age Many blood and lymph vessels Papillary layer vessels supply epidermis Arteriovenous shunts for blood pressure and temperature regulation
Heaviest organ of body, ~ 16% of body weight Epidermis: stratified squamous keratinized epithelium; ectodermal origin Dermis: connective tissue, vessels, nerves; mesodermal origin Hypodermis is not skin, subcutaneous tissue; connective and adipose tissue
Functions of Skin
Protective barrier on body surface to physical, chemical and biological intrusions Homeostasis (temperature & water) Sensory Secretory (vitamin D production) Excretory (via sweat glands)
Simple, coiled tubular glands with duct opening on epidermal surface Ducts smaller diameter than glands Glands have myoepithelial cells Dark mucoid cells and clear fluid secreting cells found in glands Ducts stratified cuboidal epithelium Secretions include water, NaCl, urea, ammonia, uric acid Functions include cooling (thermoregulation) and excretion of wastes
Axillary, areolar and anogenital regions Larger diameter than eccrine glands Ducts open into upper hair follicle Viscous secretion rich in lipids Bacteria on skin surface convert fatty acids into odoriferous compounds Pheromones in many mammals
Sebaceous Glands 1
All areas of hairy skin 2 100 per cm in most body areas 400-900 per cm2 in face and scalp Not present in glabrous skin Simple acinar glands with short ducts connected to hair follicles Basal layer of undifferentiated cells on basla lamina
Sebaceous Glands 2
Basal cells divide and differentiate becoming filled with lipid-rich droplets Nuclei shrink and cells burst delivering contents of droplets into duct forming sebum Holocrine secretion Stimulated at puberty due to sex hormones Can become infected - acne Functions of sebum may be moisturizing, antibacterial and antifungal
Figure 5.8a
Hair Growth
During growth phase epidermal cells of hair bulb are similar to stratum basale cells and they divide and differentiate into several specialized cells:
Keratinized cells of the medulla Heavily keratinized cells of the hair cortex Cuboidal cells that become columnar and form flattened heavily keratinized cells of the hair cuticle which cover the cortex External cells forming the internal and external root sheaths
Hair
Filamentous strands of dead keratinized cells produced by hair follicles Contains hard keratin which is tougher and more durable than soft keratin of the skin Made up of the shaft projecting from the skin, and the root embedded in the skin Consists of a core called the medulla, a cortex, and an outermost cuticle Pigmented by melanocytes at the base of the hair
Hair Follicle
Figure 5.6c
Hair Follicle
Figure 5.6a
Hair Follicle
Root sheath extending from the epidermal surface into the dermis Deep end is expanded forming a hair bulb A knot of sensory nerve endings (a root hair plexus) wraps around each hair bulb Bending a hair stimulates these endings, hence our hairs act as sensitive touch receptors
Nails
Plates of keratinized epidermal cells on the dorsal surface of each digit Epidermal fold covers nail root Stratum corneum forms eponychium (cuticle) Nail plate rests on epidermal bed with layers of stratum basale and stratum spinosum In nail growth, nail matrix cells divide, move distally and cornify forming proximal nail plate which slides forward over nail bed