Is the largest single organ (15-

20% of total body weight) & hi Eutaw

presenting 1.5 -2m2 of
surface to the external
environment
Site

Sex
Characteristics Varies with
Age

Exogeneous influence

phasy P Protection

H Heat regulation

A Absorption
Functions
S Secretion

E Excretion

S Sensation

Consist of ( stratified squamous

keratinized epithelium)

Thickness: ( 75-150 micro M in

thin skin) / ( ~400-1400 micro
M in thick skin)

Jo
Single layer

basophilic

I
show increased mitosis (
continuous turnover 15-30

stratumlayer
days).

Malpighian layer includes the

I
cells of (stratum basale and
1- stratum Basale (Germinativum) the deeper layers of stratum
spinosum) which suffering
from mitotic activates.

Basal cell carcinoma:

Malignant tumour of stratum
basale, rarely lethal.

Medical application (Psoriasis):

Epidermis ( Increase in the number of
proliferating cells as well as a
epithelial layer) decrease in the cycle time of
these cells that result in
greater epidermal thickness
and more rapid renewal of
epidermis

Polygonal cells
2- stratum spinosum
have spiny projections (
tonofibrils + desmosomes)

Cells have coarse basophilic

3- stratum Granulosum
granules (keratohyalin).

Only in the thick skin.

4- stratum Lucidum ( only in Translucent layer, flattened

thick skin) eosinophilic cells.

The nuclei and organelles are

no longer evidence.

Keratinized cells filled with

5- stratum corneum
keratin protein.

These are epithelial cells that

Consist of 5 layers form the stratified squamous
keratinized epithelium of the
epidermis

The most numerous cells found in

the epidermis

The basal layer divide to replace

1- keratinocytes the superficial dead cells

Bound together with various

cellular junctions

Pemphigus: Type of blistering

disorder is caused by
Medical application autoimmune damage to
intercellular junctions between
keratinocytes.

Function They give the skin its color

They are present in stratum

basal & spinosum

Melanin granules migrate through the

cytoplasmic extensions & enter
keratinocytes…. Skin color is the result of
the amount of melanin granules & melanocyte
activity..

The number of melanocytes is

constant per area in human
regardless of sex or race

Eumelanin (dark hair)

Contain pigments:
Pheomelanin (red hair)

Cells of the epidermis 2- melanocytes Malignant melanoma:

Invasive tumor of
melanocytes, dividing rapidly
and invade the blood and
lymphatic vessels.

Vitiligo:
The degeneration and
Medical application disappearance of entire
melanocytes causes a patchy
loss of pigment in the skin

Albinism:
A hereditary inability of the
melanocytes to synthesize of
melanin, is caused by the absence
of tyrosinase activity or the
inability of cells to take up
tyrosine

Tyrosine(by tyrosinase)——->
Melanin synthesis Dopa——-> Dopaquinone——->
Melanin

Star- shaped cells, mainly in

stratum spinosum

3- langerhans cells Derived from macrophages

They are antigen- presenting celss (APC)

Generally found in thick skin

Similar to epidermal epithelial cells but show

4- merkel’s cells dense granules

They are mechano- receptors

Fibroblast

Mast cell
Contains
Macrophages

Leukocytes

Composed of It forms lamina reticularis to

share in the formation of

The skin basal laminin “ basement

membrane”

The surface of the dermis is very

irregular and has many
projections (dermal papillae)
that interdigitate with the
evaginations (epidermal ridges)
of the epidermis

Thin layer, which constitutes

the major part of the dermal
Outer papillary layer
papillae, is composed of loose
connective tissue
Consists of 2 layers
Thicker, composed of irregular
dense connective tissue and has
Inner reticular layer
more fibers and fewer cells than
the papillary layer.

Hairs are elongated keratinized

structures derived from
invaginations of the epidermal
epithelium called hair follicles.

The color, size, shape and texture of hairs vary age, genetic background, and region of the
according to body.

Dermis ( mesodermal All skin has at least minimal hair except that

connective tissue)
of the palms, soles, lips, glans penis, clitoris,
and labia minora.

The face has about 600 hairs/cm2 and the

Hairs remainder of the body has about 60/cm2.

The hair follicle has a terminal dilatation

called a hair bulb

A dermal papilla inserts into the base of the

hair bulb.

The epidermal cells covering this dermal

papilla form the hair root.

G ohf air
Alopecia Totalis and Areata:

layers
Medical application are an autoimmune disorders against hair
follicles

Are halocrine, simple branched acinar glands

with several acini converging at a short duct
which empties into the upper portion of a hair
follicle.

Embedded in the dermis over most of the body

surface, except the thick skin.

The acini consist of a basal layer of

undifferentiated flattened epithelial cells.

Imsi
Sebaceous glands
These cells proliferate and
are displaced toward the middle of the acinus,
become large, lipid-producing sebocytes

Their nuclei shrink and undergo autophagy and

near the duct the cells disintegrate and
release the lipids.

The product of this process is sebum

Acne:
A chronic inflammation of obstructed
Containing of Medical application
sebaceous glands due to disturbance in the
normal secretion and flow of sebum.

Eccrine sweat glands

● Both the secretory portions and ducts of
1. Clear cells, Pale ,produce the sweat.
eccrine sweat glands are simple coiled tubular
and have small lumens. ● widely distributed in
the skin and are most numerous on the soles
2. Dark cells have bactericidal activity.
of the feet (620/cm2).
● Collectively the 3 million eccrine sweat
glands of the average person roughly equal the
3. Myoepithelial cells produce contractions.

Is a
mass of a kidney and can produce as much as
10 L/day.
Sweat glands are epidermal derivatives
embedded in the dermis.
Sweat glands 1. Eccrine which open to the skin surface 2. Apocrine sweat glands
Apocrine which open into hair follicles. ● Are largely confined to skin of the axillary
and perineal
regions.
● Much larger lumen.
● The secretory portions of
apocrine sweat glands consist of
simple cuboidal, eosinophilic cells.
● The wall of the ducts is similar to that of
the eccrine glands.
● Ducts open into hair follicles.
● The slightly viscous secretion is initially
odorless but may acquire a distinctive odor as
a result of

a. Tactile discs associated with the epidermal

tactile cells(Merkel) which function as
receptors for light touch.

b. Free nerve endings in the papillary dermis

and extending into lower epidermal layers,
1. The unencapsulated receptors which respond primarily to high and low
temperatures, pain, and itching, but also
function as tactile receptors.

c. Root hair plexuses, a web of sensory fibers

surrounding the bases of hair follicles that
detects movements of the hairs

The skin functions as an extensive receiver for

Sensory receptors certain stimuli from the environment a. Meissner corpuscles are in the dermal
papillae and
papillary layer of the fingertips, palms and
soles. They detect light touch.

b. Pacinian corpuscles are large oval

structures, approximately 0.5 mm by 1 mm,
found deep in the reticular dermis or
hypodermis, with an outer capsule and 15 to 50
2. Encapsulated receptors
thin, concentric lamellae. Lamellated
corpuscles are specialized for sensing coarse
touch, pressure (sustained touch), and
vibrations.

c. Krause corpuscles and Ruffini corpuscles

are other encapsulated, pressure-sensing
mechanoreceptors in dermis, but are more
poorly characterized structurally.

Hypodermis (
subcutaneous tissue)

● Covers palms and

soles.

● Lacks hair follicles, sebaceous

Thick skin gland & arrector pili muscle

● Thick epidermis: thick

malpighian and granular layers,
very thick horny (corneum) layer
Types and has a lucidum layer

● Covers rest of the

body.

● Contains hair follicles,

Thin skin sebaceis gland & arrector pili
muscle

● Thin epidermis: thin malpighian

and granular layers, very thin
horny (corneum) layer and lacks a
lucidum layer .

1- The outer skin

layer (epidermis) thins.

2- The number of
melanocytes decreases.

3- Changes in the
connective tissue reduce
the skin's strength and
elasticity

4- The blood vessels of

the dermis become
more fragile.
Aging
5- Sebaceous glands
produce less oil.

6-The sweat glands

produce less sweat.

7- The dermal papillae

decrease in number
and depth

8- The skin becomes

more fragile, lose its
suppleness, and develop
wrinkles