The skin

Briefly describe the layers of the epidermis (epithelium),

dermis (connective tissue) and associated appendages
Epidermis
- 5 layers
- Include keratinised stratified squamous epithelial cells
- Keratinocytes create keratin
- Melanocytes create skin pigmentation
- Avascular – supported and nourished by the dermis
Layer Properties
Corneum Keratinised cell remnants
Thick, interdigitating plasma membrane
Lucidum Nuclei and organelles are disappearing
Densely packed filaments in the amorphous matrix
Dead cells containing dispersed keratohyalin
Granulosum kerotohyalin granules form filaments
Spinosum Early keratin synthesis
Contains membrane bound organelles
Basale Germinal layer
Contains prekeratin tonofilaments

Dermis
- Mostly connective tissue
- 2 layers: papillary (loose) and reticular (irregular dense)
- Rich innervation and vasculature

Hypodermis
- Subcutaneous attachment
- Loose CT and fat cells
- Large blood vessels and nerves

Associated appendages
- Hair and Hair follicles
o A hair produced by a hair follicle, consists of heavily keratinized cells. A
typical hair has a central medulla, a cortex and an outer cuticle and root
and shaft portions. Hair colour reflects the amount and kind of melanin
present.
o A hair follicle consists of an inner epithelial root sheath and an outer
peripheral connective tissue sheath derived from the dermis. The base of
the hair follicleis a hair bulb with a matrix that produces the hair. A hair
follicle is richly vascularized and well supplied with nerve fibres. Arrector
pilli muscles pull the follicles into an upright position, producing goose
bumps and propel sebum to the skin surfacewhen they contract.
o Except for hairs of the scalp and around the eyes, hairs formed initially are
fine vellus hairs at pubery under the influence of anrogens coarser darker
terminal hairs appear in the axilla and the genital region
o The rate of hair growth varies in different body regions and with sex and
age. Differences in life span of hairs account for diffreences in length on
 different body regions. Hair thinning reflects factors that lengthen
follicular resting periods, age-related atrophy of hair follicles and a
delayed-action gene.

- Nails
o A nail is a scalelike modification of the epidermis that covers the dorsum of
a finger (or toe) tip. The actively growing region is the nail matrix.
- Sweat (Sudoriferous) Glands
o Eccrine (merocrine) sweat glands are distributed over the entire body
surface. Their primary function is thermoregulation. They are simple
coiled tubular glands that secrete a salt solution containing small amounts
of other solutes. Their ducts usually empty to the skinn surface via pores.
o Apocrine sweat glands which may function as scent glands, are found
primarily in the axiallary and anogenital areas. Their secretion is similar to
eccrine secretion but it also contains proteins and fatty substances on
which bacteria thrive.
- Sebaceous (Oil) glands
o Sebaceous glands occur all over the body surface except for the palms and
soles. They are simple alveolar glands their oily holocrine seretion is
called sebum. Sebaceous gland ducts usually empty into hair follicles.
o Sebum lubricates the skin and hair, prevents water loss from the skin and
acts as a bacterial agent. Sebaceous glands are activated and controlled
by androgens.
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List the major functions of the skin and relate these

functions to its histological structure
- Resist bacterial infection = keratinised layer
- Prevent dehydration = keratinised layer
- Register stimuli = nerve endings
- Protects against UV = melanin
- Thermoregulation = via sweat and sebum glands
- Flexion lines = grooves on the surface, like finger print or knee