Histology of

the Integumentary System

 Body Membranes
 EPITHELIAL
 Cutaneous- Skin = Epidermis (stratified
squamous epithelium) +
Dermis (dense irregular connective
tissue)
 Mucous- Mucosae- mucin-secreting ‘moist’
lining of body cavities that
open to the outside (respiratory;
digestive; genito-urinary; reproductive)
= lining epithelium +
lamina propria
 Serous- Serosae- line closed body cavities
Body Membranes

 CONNECTIVE TISSUE Membranes -

derived from the mesoderm
 Synovial membrane - no epithelium; lines
the fibrous capsule surrounding joints,
providing a smooth surface & secreting a
lubricating synovial fluid; & also lines the
small sacs, the ‘bursae’ of connective
tissues, & tendon sheaths
Embryology
Primary Ectoderm

Neuroectoderm 2° Ectoderm

Neural Neural Epidermis Pilar

Eccrine
tube crest Melanocytes complex
gland

Extracutaneous Melanoblasts

Sympathetic NS
 Skin
 Epidermis - stratified
squamous epithelium;
its thickness
determines thickness
of the skin
 Dermis - also ‘Corium’
or ‘Cutis’- dense
irregular (fibro-
elastic) connective
tissue - contains
glands & follicles that
are derived from
The Epidermis
 Stratum corneum - 20 to 30 cell layers, it
constitutes 75% of epidermal
thickness; renews every 35-45 days
- consists of cornified horny cells -
‘corneocytes ’- in a loose
basketweave pattern
- keratin - on the surface - very tough
protein; mechanical barrier;
impervious to water
 Stratum lucidum - clear zone - rich in elastic
fibers- usually seen in acral portions of the
body; cells appear homogenous
 Stratum granulosum - 3 to 5 cell layers, its
thickness is usually proportional to
The Epidermis
 Stratum spinosum/malpighii - 2 to 6 cell layers
- gives mechanical stability to the skin;
cells are closely attached to one
another
- consists of polygonal cells with
abundant desmosomes- ‘prickle’ or
‘spinous’ cells; the upper cells contain
lamellar bodies also known as
‘keratinosomes’ ‘cementosomes’ or
‘Odland bodies’
 Stratum germinativum/basale - single layer of
flat, cuboidal, or columnar cells attached
to the underlying basement membrane by
hemidesmosomes, & to the upper cells by
Other Cells of the Epidermis
 Langerhans cells - comprise 3 to 8% of
epidermal cells
- indented nucleus; cytoplasmic racquet-
shaped Birbeck granules

- immunologic function - help present Ag to

helper T lymphocytes

 Merkel cells - found only in the basal layer,

cells have irregular lobulated nuclei
& cytoplasm with membrane bound granules
- abundant in areas with high tactile
sensitivity; innervated by myelinated
nerve fibers
 Melanocytes - about every 10th cell in the basal
Other Elements in the
Epidermis
 Herxheimer spirals - thick bundles of
intracellular tonofibrils that form the
attachment of desmosomes

 Colloidbodies - also ‘hyaline’ ‘civatte’

‘eosinophilic’ bodies - deeply eosinophilic,
degenerated epithelial cells

 Keratin -very stable protein- can be

dissolved only by strong acid; impervious
to water

 Melanin -
yellow to brown to black pigment
produced by melanocytes; acts like a
Keratin &
Melanocytes/Melanin
The Dermis
 Papillary (superficial) layer - irregular mesh of
collagen fibers; - uneven, undulating
contour due to dermal papillae – folds of
dermis that increase the contact area
between the epidermis & dermis; (rete
ridges- epidermal folds) - stains
pale pink with H & E
- contains capillary loops, cutaneous
receptors, sweat pores
 Reticular (deep) layer - coarser, criss-crossed
collagen bundles; - deeply eosinophilic with
H&E
- with blood vessels, sweat & oil glands,
Dermal papillae & Rete
ridges
The Dermis
Blood Supply
 Rete cutaneum - deep network of branches of
the main arteries that supply the skin
 Rete subpapillare - network at the junction
between papillary & reticular layers;
small arterioles branch into the papillae
Extracellular Matrix & Fibers
 Glycosaminoglycans: Hyaluronic acid,
Chondroitin sulfate, Dermatan sulfate
 mostly Type I Collagen fibers + some type III;
Elastic fibers
Cells of the Dermis
 Fibroblasts - fusiform or stellate cells that
produce collagen - main parenchymal
cells

 Mastcells - analogues of basophils found

around blood vessels
- contain metachromatic cytoplasmic
granules

 Macrophages - phagocytic cells –

Histiocytes

 Wandering cells - transients - erythrocytes,

Dermal Appendages:
Glands
 Sebaceous (oil) - found all over the skin
EXCEPT in palms & soles - ducts empty
into hair follicles or skin surface
- holocrine type of secretion
- Sebum - mixture of oils & fragmented cells;
abundant triglycerides &
FFA; keeps hair supple & skin soft;
- also has antibacterial properties
 Sudoriferous (sweat) : >2.5 million/person

 Eccrine - distributed all over the body

EXCEPT in the Lips, Clitoris,
Penis, & Labia majora;
- coiled glands in the deep dermis, pores
open to skin surface
Sebaceous glands
Dermal Appendages: Glands
 Apocrine - limited to the axillary & genital
areas, nipples, face, scalp, &
anterior trunk; larger, complex
glands; cells are large plump eosinophilic
- ducts open into hair follicles or onto
skin surface - secretion is a milky to
yellowish fluid, rich in fatty acids,
proteins, H2O & salts; odorless, but
bacterial action can produce an
unpleasant odor (‘body odor’)

Ceruminous glands - in the ear; secrete

Cerumen
Eccrine & Apocrine Glands
Dermal Appendages
Hair - present on body surfaces EXCEPT in
the hands, feet, lips - flexible, tubular;
minor protective function in humans,
more of an aesthetic role
Hair follicle – tubular invaginations of the
epidermis;
 Bulb - inferior end- basaloid cells &
melanocytes
 Matrix - growth zone; dark mass of cells

 Papilla - dermal papilla invaginating into

the bulb
 Root - enclosed by dermal & epidermal
sheaths
 Shaft : consists of the medulla (core);
cortex; & cuticle; its shape determines
Dermal Appendages

 Arrector muscle/Arrectores pilorum muscle

- smooth muscle connected to hair
- contraction pulls the hair upright
 Haarscheibe - round dermoepidermal disc
in close vicinity to hairs
- is a slow-adapting touch receptor
 Sensory Receptors - Pacinian corpuscles
(pressure); Krause end-bulbs
(warmth); Ruffini’s (cold);
Meissner’s (touch);
Dermal Appendages
Dermal Appendages
Nail - scale-like
modification of the
epidermis
 Nail bed - stratum
germinativum
 Nail matrix
 Root
 Body with free edge
 Cuticle
 Nail fold
 Eponychium
 Hyponychium
 Lunula
Skin: Other Considerations
 Skin thickness
 Skin color - results from a combination of
factors:
- amount & kind of Melanin
- amount of Carotene
- level of Oxyhemoglobin in blood/ skin
circulation
 General functions:
 Protective vs chemical, biological,
ultraviolet, mechanical, thermal
damage/invasion & dessication
 Excretory - sweat, sebum, cerumen (urea,
uric acid, water, salts)
Thank you