Skin • Largest organ of body, 15-20% of total weight.

• Composed of epidermis (ectodermal origin), and

dermis (mesodermal origin)

• The junction is irregular and consist of dermal

papillae and epidermal ridges.

• Beneath the dermis is the hypodermis which

contains fat pads. (Superficial fascia)

Functions of the Skin

Epidermal ridges • Protection
• Sensory
Dermal papillae
• Thermoregulatory
• Metabolic
• Sexual Signaling
 Epidermis
• Stratified Squamous Epithelium, keratinocytes
• Melanocytes
• Langerhans Cell
• Merkel Cells
Layers of the Epidermis
• Stratum basale: single layer of basophilic
cuboidal to columnar cells at dermal epidermal
junction.
• Stratum spinosum: normally thickest layer,
polyhedral cells with central nuclei and nucleoli.
Keratin form bundles called tonofibrils on each
side of desmosome. “Spiny or prickly”
appearance.
• Epidermis is the distinction between thick skin
(palms and soles) and thin skin
• Thin skin 75-150 microm and thick skin 400-1400
microm (1.4 mm)
• Lacks micro vascular system.
• Stratum granulosum: 3-5 layers of flattened cells
filled with keratohyaline granules
• Stratum lucidum: found only in thick skin consists
of translucent layer of flattened keratinocytes held
by desmosomes. Nuclei and organelles are lost.
• Stratum corneum: consists of 15-20 layers of
squamous keratinized cells filled with keratins.
These cells are continuously being shed.
 Melanocytes
• Specialized cell found at basal layer of epidermis and
in hair follicles.

• Contain eumelanins which are brown black pigments.

• In people with red hair it pheomelanin
• Have round bodies with cytoplasmic extensions that
attach to neighboring keratinocytes

• Cell bodies are pale. They have hemidesmosomes to

the basal lamina but no desmosomes to adjacent cells.
 Langerhans Cells

• Antigen presenting cells

• Derived from monocytes.

• Usually found in the stratum spinosum.

• Bind, process and present antigens to T lymphocytes

similar to dendritic cells.
 Merkel Cells
• AKA epithelial tactile cell.
• Resemble keratinocytes but lack melanosomes
• Responsible for sensing gentle or light touch.
• Small dense granules bear basolateral surface
which have synaptic contacts with unmyelinated
• Found abundantly in fingertips and base of hair nerves.
follicles.

• Found at basal layer and joined to adjacent

keratinocytes by desmosomes.
Dermis
 Blood Plexus

Two Sublayers of Dermis

• Papillary Layer: thin and includes dermal papillae.

Consist of areolar tissue with type I and III Subpapillary plexus
collagen. Type VII collagen anchors dermis to
epidermis.

• Reticular Layer: Thicker, dense irregular

Deep plexus
connective tissue. Also has elastic fibers giving
elasticity to skin.

Subcutaneous Tissue

• AKA hypodermis or superficial fascia.

• Consist of loose connectivetissue and fat. Binds
skin loosely to underlying organs

• Has extensive vascular supply.

 Unencapsulated Receptors
• Merkel Cell: associated with expanded nerve
endings which function for light touch and
sensing an object’s texture.

Sensory Organs • Free Nerve Endings: In papillary dermis and

extending into lower epidermal layer. Senses
pain, itching, high/low temperature, and tactile.

• Root Hair Plexus: sensory fibers surrounding hair

follicle at reticular dermis that detect movement
of hair.

Encapsulated Receptors

• Meissner corpuscle: elliptical structures

consisting of sensory axons with flattened
Schwann cells arranged perpendicular to
epidermis in dermal papillae also detect light
touch. These number decline in aging.
• Pacinian Corpuscle: large oval structures found in
deep reticular demis and hypodermis. Concentric
lamellae of flattened schwann cells. Detects
coarse touch, pressure and vibration. May be
found in organs of body
• Ruffini corpuscles: have fusiform capsules. These
detect stretch and twisting of skin.

• Krause end blubs: ovoid structures with thin

collagenous capsules penetrated by sensory
fibers. Found in skin of penis and clitoris where
they sense low frequency vibrations
 • Elongated keratinized structures that form within
epidermal invaginations (hair follicle)
Hair
• All skin has hair except for palms, sole, lips, glans
penis, clitoris, and labia minora.
• Anagen: period of mitotic growth and activity
• Catagen: period of arrested growth and
regression of hair bulb.

• Telogen: final period of inactivity where hair may

be shed.
Nails
 Sebeaceous Glands

• Found in most parts of body except skin of palm

and soles.

• High numbers in face and scalp. • Holocrine secretion

• Branched acinar glands which converge on upper • Cells are sebocytes and filled with fat dropplets.
Product is sebum.
portion of hair follicle.

• Hair follicle together with sebeacous glands make • Sebum is mix of lipids, wax, esters, equalene,
cholesterols, and triglycerides.
the pilosebaceous unit.

• Those without hair empty directly to skin surface.

Sweat Glands
 Eccrine Sweat Glands
• most abundant, especially at foot soles.
Important in thermoregulation. Also eliminate
small amounts of waste and excess salt.
• Divided into secretory part and the sweat ducts
• Secretory pale staining: Clear cells: located in
basal portion produce sweat have abundant
mitochondria.
• Dark cells: eosinophilic granules line lumen and
do not contact basal lamina. Release
glycoprotein with bactericidal activity
• Myoepithelial cells.
 Apocrine Sweat Glands
• Misnomer because these glands undergo
merocrine secretion

• Confined to axillary and perineal regions.

• Development depends on sex hormones and is
completed after puberty

• Secretory component has wide lumens lined by

simple cuboidal cells with numerous eosinophilic
granules.

• Ducts are similar to eccrine but open into hair

follicles.

• Protein rich product which is degraded by

bacteria
The End