SYSTEMIC EMBRYOLOGY

ANA 232

Integumentary System

Auza, M I (BSc, MSc)

Department of Human Anatomy

Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
Bingham University, Karu
 WISDOM QUOTE
"What you have is a key
to unlocking
something you need; you
only need
to look inward.”
 Introduction
• The skin and its appendages (sebaceous glands, sweat glands,
hair, and nails) constitute the integumentary system.
• The skin is the largest organ of the body and consists of
two layers:
• The Epidermis: A superficial layer and
• The Dermis: A deep layer, aka corium.
 Development of the Skin
• The skin develops from two
sources:
(a) The epidermis develops
from surface ectoderm
(b) The dermis develops from
the underlying mesoderm.
 Development of the Skin
• In addition to the above two sources,
• The melanoblasts (dendritic cells) of epidermis develop from the
neural crest cells.
• The appendages of skin are derived from the epidermis e.g
• Sebaceous and sweat glands,
• Hair, and
• Nails.
Stages of development of skin
Development of Skin: Epidermis
• The epidermis develops
from surface ectoderm.
• Initially
• The surface ectoderm
consists of a single layer of
cells.
• In the second month,
• These cells proliferate and
form a second layer of
flattened cells called
periderm epitrichium.
Development of Skin: Epidermis
• The epidermis now consists of two
layers:
• Superficial layer of flattened cells
(periderm)
• Deep layer of cuboidal cells (basal
layer).
• With further proliferation of cells
in the basal layer, a third
intermediate layer is formed.
• The basal layer functions as a
germinative layer and is called
stratum germinativum.
• The cells of the basal layer
proliferate and differentiate to
form the various layers (strata) of
the epidermis.
 Epidermis
• At the end of the third month,
the epidermis consists of four
layers.
• From deep to superficial these
are:
• Basal layer (stratum
germinativum)
• Spinous layer (stratum spinosum)
• Granular layer (stratum
granulosum)
• Horny layer (stratum corneum).
 Components of the Epidermis
The basal layer (stratum
germinativum):
• This layer consists of
columnar cells.
• They constantly divide
mitotically and move
superficially to renew the
epidermis.
• It usually takes 6–8 weeks for
the cells to move from the
basal layer to surface of the
skin.
 Components of the Epidermis
The spinous layer (stratum
spinosum):
• This layer consists of
numerous irregular prickle
cells (cells with spine-like
processes).
• The spiny appearance of
this layer is due to the
shape of the prickle cells
(keratinocytes).
Components of the Epidermis
The granular layer (stratum
granulosum):
• This layer consists of three
or four flattened rows of
cells.
• The cytoplasm of the cells
of the granular layer
contains keratohyalin
granules due to the process
of keratinization.
 Components of the Epidermis
The stratum lucidum
• The cells superficial to
granular layer are cells with
scanty nuclei, and form a
homogeneous layer called
stratum lucidum.
• Histologically, this layer
(stratum lucidum) appears
clear.
• It exists only in lips and thick
skin of the soles and palms.
 Components of the Epidermis
The horny layer (stratum
corneum)
• Consists of several layers of
flattened scale-like cells
that are continuously shed off
as flake-like residues of cells
deprived of their nuclei and
eventually die.
• The cytoplasm of these cells
is filled with kerati granules.
 Components of the Epidermis
• The melanoblasts (dendritic
cells) appear in the basal
layer during the third
month.
• They are derived from
neural crest cells.
N.B.
• The periderm disappears
when the stratum corneum is
formed.
 Formation of Epidermal Ridges and
Dermal Papillae
• The epidermis shows
thickenings that project
in the dermis to form
epidermal ridges.
• The parts of dermis
projecting between the
epidermal ridges are
called dermal papillae.

Formation of epidermal ridges and dermal papillae

 Dermis
• The dermis develops from mesenchyme lying underneath the
surface ectoderm.
• This mesenchyme is derived from three sources:
(a) paraxial mesoderm
(b) somatopleuric layer of lateral plate mesoderm, and
(c) neural crest cells.
• The mesenchymal cells differentiate into connective tissue
cells that form connective tissue fibers (collagen and
elastic fibers) and amorphous ground substance of the
connective tissue.
 Dermis
• During third and fourth
months dermis forms many
irregular ridges called dermal
papillae, which project into
the epidermis and inter-
digitate with the epidermal
ridges.
• The dermis differentiates into
two layers:
1. Superficial papillary layer
2. Deeper reticular layer.
 Dermis
• Most of the dermal papillae
of papillary layer of dermis
contain a small loop of
capillary plexus and a
sensory receptor (sensory
nerve end organ).
• The loops of capillary plexus
provide nourishment to the
epidermis and to the
sensory nerve end organ.
 Dermis
• The deeper reticular layer of dermis contains large amount
of fatty tissue.
• The blood vessels in the dermis develop initially as
endothelium-lined structures that differentiate from the
mesenchyme.
• These primordial vessels give rise to the capillaries
(angiogenesis).
• The angiogenesis of the dermis is completed by the end of
first trimester of pregnancy.
 Clinical Correlation
Ichthyosis (Gr. Ichthys = fish):
• It is a clinical condition characterized by dryness of skin
with fish-like scaling in part of or entire body.
• It occurs due to excessive keratinization of the skin.
• In severe cases ichthyosis may result in a grotesque
appearance, e.g., harlequin fetus.
 Clinical Correlation
Albinism:
• It is a clinical condition characterized by reduced or
absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes (retina
lacks pigment; however iris usually shows some
pigmentation).
• In most cases, it occurs due to abnormal synthesis of
melanin by the melanocytes.
• N.B. The generalized albinism is an autosomal recessive
disorder whereas localized albinism is autosomal dominant
disorder.
 Clinical Correlation
Vitiligo:
• It is a clinical condition characterized by patchy loss of
pigmentation in the skin and overlying hair.
• It results from loss of melanocytes due to an autoimmune
disorder.
 Development of Hair
• The hairs or pili (L. Pilus =
hair) begin to develop early in
the fetal life (7–12 weeks).
• Each hair develops from down-
growth of the epidermis into
underlying dermis.
• The cells of the stratum
germinativum proliferate to
form a solid epithelial cord
that extends obliquely
downward in the dermis to
form hair bud.
 Development of Hair
• The terminal part of the hair bud
becomes club shaped and forms
the hair bulb.
• It is invaginated by the
mesenchymal condensation of the
dermis and the hair bulb now
becomes inverted cup-shaped
structure.
• The dermis within the cup-
shaped hair bulb is called dermal
papilla.
• The cells of the hair bulb at the
summit of dermal papilla form
the ‘germinal matrix’ that later
produces the hair.
 Development of Hair
• The peripheral cells of
developing hair follicle form
epithelial root sheath.
• The dermis condenses around
this sheath to form dermal root
sheath.
• The cells of the germinal matrix
proliferate to form root of the
hair.
• As it grows, it is pushed outside
the hair follicle on the surface
of skin as a shaft of the hair.
• The root and shaft of hair
become keratinized.
 Development of Hair
• The melanoblasts migrate into the hair bulbs and
differentiate into the melanocytes.
• Melanin formed by these melanocytes is transferred to
proliferating cells of the germinal matrix. This melanin is
responsible for color of hair.
• First hairs that appear are fine, soft, lightly pigmented, and
silky.
• They help to hold the vernix caseosa on the skin surface.
• These hairs are called lanugo.
 Development of Hair
• The lanugos (downy hairs) are replaced by coarser hairs
during the perinatal period, which persists over most of the
body except in axillary and pubic regions where they are
replaced at puberty by even coarser terminal hair.
• In men similar coarse hairs appear on the face (e.g.,
moustaches and beard) and often on the chest.
 Development of Hair
• The definitive hair grows to a certain length and then cease
to grow, e.g., hairs of eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic, and
axillary regions.
• At certain sites, e.g., scalp of males and females and the
face of males, the hair grows continuously throughout life.
• They are called angora.
 Arrector Muscle of Hair (Arrector
Pili Muscle)
• The small bundle of smooth
muscle fibers differentiate
from the mesenchyme
surrounding the hair follicle
usually on one side and attach
the dermal root sheath of hair
follicle and papillary layer of
the dermis to form arrector
pili muscle.
• The contraction of arrector
pili muscles causes ‘goose
bumps.’
 Clinical Correlation
Hypertrichosis (excessive hairiness):
• It results due to development of unusual abundance of hair
follicles or due to persistence of lanugo hairs that normally
disappear during the perinatal period.
Congenital alopecia (absence or loss of hair):
• It may occur alone or with other skin abnormalities of the
skin and its derivatives.
• It occurs either due to failure of hair follicles to develop or
due to production of poor quality hairs.
 Glands of the Skin
• There are two types of glands in the skin:
1. Sebaceous and
2. Sweat.
• Both these types of glands are derived from the epidermis
and grow into the dermis.
 Sebaceous Glands
• The sebaceous gland develops as a bud
from the epithelial root sheath of hair
follicle.
• The bud grows into the surrounding
dermis and divides into a number of
branches to form primordia of several
alveoli and their associated ducts.
• The cells in the center of alveoli
(acini) degenerate to produce an oily
secretion called sebum.
• It is released into the hair follicle and
from here it passes to the surface of
the skin.
 Sweat Glands
• The sweat glands are of two
types:
• Eccrine and
• Apocrine.
 Sweat Glands: Eccrine
• Eccrine sweat glands are
found in the skin of most
parts of the body.
• The eccrine sweat gland
develops from downgrowth of
the epidermis into the
underlying dermis.
• The cells of stratum
germinativum proliferate to
form a solid mass of
epithelial cells that extend
downward in the underlying
dermis to form the bud of
sweat gland.
 Sweat Glands: Ecrine
• This downgrowth elongates and its
terminal part becomes coiled.
• Later on this solid downgrowth is
canalized to form lumen.
• The terminal coiled part of
downgrowth forms secretory part
of the sweat gland, while
• The proximal straight part forms
duct of the sweat gland.
• The site of beginning of
downgrowth from the surface
epithelium forms pore of the duct
of the sweat gland.
• The eccrine sweat glands start
functioning shortly after birth.
 Sweat Glands: Apocrine
Apocrine sweat glands
• Are found in the axilla, pubic
and perineal regions, and
areolae of nipples.
• They begin to develop during
puberty.
• They develop from same
epidermal buds that form the
hair follicles.
• Consequently these glands
open into the hair follicles
instead of opening on the skin
surface.
N.B.
• The sweat produced by
apocrine sweat glands contains
lipids, proteins, and
pheromones.
• The odor produced from these
sweat glands is due to
breakdown of these products.
• It is thought to act as a
sexual attractant.
 Difference between eccrine and apocrine
sweat glands
Eccrine Sweat Gland
• Found over most parts of the body
• Develop before birth
• Develop directly from surface
epithelium
• Pours its secretion directly on the
skin surface
• Secrete by merocrine mechanism
(exocytosis)
• Secretion is watery and involved in
temperature control
Apocrine Sweat Gland
• Confined to axilla, pubic and perineal regions, and
areola of the nipples
• Develop after birth at puberty
• Develop from epidermal bud that produces hair
follicle
• Pours its secretion in the hair follicles just above
the opening of sebaceous gland
• Secrete by apocrine mechanism (a portion of
secretory cells is shed/ pinched off and
incorporated into the secretion)
• Secretion is thick and produces an odor that acts
as a sexual attractant
 Development of Nails
• The nail develops at tips of digits of
toes and fingers approximately at
10 weeks.
• The ectoderm at the tip of each
digit thickens to form primordium
of nail—the primary nail field.
• The first indication of development
of the nail is the formation of fold
of thickened epidermis.
• This fold is ‘U’ shaped and is called
nail fold.
• The formation of nail fold defines
certain structures in the terminal
part of the digit-like nail groove
and nail bed.

Stages of development of a finger nail

 Development of Nails
• The cells of germinal layer
at the base of nail groove
proliferate to form a thick
layer of cells called germinal
matrix.
• The cells of germinal matrix
proliferate, get keratinized,
and form nail plate, which
corresponds to the stratum
lucidum of the epidermis.
 Development of Nails
• With continued proliferation of
germinal matrix, the nail plate grows
and slides over the nail bed.
• With the formation of the nail plate,
the part of epidermis overlapping
proximal part of the developing nail is
called eponychium.
• This eponychium degenerates and
exposes the nail, except at its base
where it persists as cuticle.
• The epidermis below free margin of the
nail is called hyponychium.
• The part of the nail in the groove is
called root of the nail.
 Clinical Correlation
Anonychia (absence of nails at birth):
• It is extremely rare and occurs due to failure of nail fields
to form or failure of the proximal nail fold to form nail
plates.
• The anonychia may be restricted to one or more nails.
 Development of Mammary Glands
• The mammary glands are
modified and highly specialized
sweat glands and therefore
develop from the surface
ectoderm.
The development occurs as
follows:
1. In the fourth week, the
surface ectoderm thickens on
either side of the ventral
aspect of trunk of embryo
along the line extending from
the axilla to the inguinal region
to form mammary ridge or
line.
 Development of Mammary Glands
2. About 15–20 mammary buds
develop as solid down-growths
of the epidermis into the
underlying mesenchyme along
the mammary ridge on each
side.
3. Normally mammary ridge and
associated mammary buds
disappear, except in the
pectoral region.
4. In the pectoral region, the
mammary bud presents a
surface depression called
mammary pit.
 Development of Mammary Glands
5. About 15–20 epithelial cords grow
inwards from the bottom of the
pit into the underlying dermis.
The epithelial cords are primordia
of lactiferous ducts.
6. The deeper ends of the epithelial
cords subdivide further and
terminate as ampullated ends—
the primordia of ductules and
alveoli.
7. At the end of fetal life, the
epithelial cords and their
branches are canalized and form
lactiferous ducts.
 Development of Mammary Glands
8. Initially the lactiferous
ducts open into the
bottom of the mammary
pit.
9. Shortly before birth the
pit is evaginated by the
growth of underlying
mesoderm and form the
nipple.
 Development of Mammary Glands
10. The rudimentary mammary glands of newborn males and
females are similar.
• This condition persists throughout life in males. In females,
however, infantile form of mammary gland grows in size at
puberty under the influence of sex hormones and assumes a
hemispherical outline.
• The full development of breast occurs at about 19 years of
age.
 Clinical Correlation
Developmental (congenital) anomalies of the mammary glands
Amastia (absence of breast) and Athelia (absence of nipple):
• This condition occurs due to failure of formation of mammary
ridge or failure of formation of mammary bud.
• Clinically it presents as the absence of breast on one or both
sides. Bilateral complete absence of mammary glands is a rare
anomaly.
Inverted (or crater) nipple:
• It occurs due to failure of evagination of the mammary pit.
• In such a case, lactiferous ducts open into a pit causing difficulty
in suckling.
 Clinical Correlation
Polythelia (presence of supernumerary nipples):
• They may be found along the milk line/ridge, but are most
commonly seen in the region of axilla.
Polymastia (accessory breasts):
• Accessory breast develops due to the formation of extra-
mammary buds along the milk line/ridge.
• The occurrence of accessory breasts is less common than
polythelia.
 Questions
1. The developing fetal skin is constantly exposed to the amniotic fluid that
has high urine content, but still it is not affected by it. Why?
2. What is the embryological basis of fingerprints and how they form the
basis for many studies in medical genetics and criminal investigation?
3. What is nevus? Give its embryological basis.
4. The dorsal aspect of digits near their tips are innervated by the nerves of
the ventral aspect of the digits.
5. What is ‘witch milk’? Give its embryological basis.
6. What is gynecomastia? Give its embryological/anatomical basis.
7. An adult female has an accessory breast in her axilla. Give its embryological
basis.
8. A young, adult, newly married female complained that there is a marked
difference in size of her breasts. Explain.