UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
• HUMAN EMBRYOLOGY

• DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

• Dr. Mukape Mukape

- UNZA (BSc.HB, MBChB, MSc)
- Specialist Registrar in OBGY, UTH

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 Introduction
• The skin is the largest organ in the body

• Has a dual origin:

1. Epidermis (superficial layer) from ectoderm

2. Dermis (deep layer) from mesenchyme (mesoderm)

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 Epidermis
• Initially, the embryo is covered by a single layer of
ectodermal cells

• In the beginning of the 2nd month, this epithelium

divides to give:
1. Periderm or epitrichium (layer of flattened cells on
the surface)
2. Basal layer or germinative layer at the base

• With further proliferation of cells in the basal layer a

3rd intermediate zone is formed
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 Epidermis
• Finally, at the end of the 4th month, the
epidermis acquires its definitive arrangement

• 4 layers can now be distinguished:

1. Basal or germinative layer
2. Spinous layer
3. Granular
4. Horny layer

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 Epidermis
• Basal layer or germinative layer
- Is responsible for production of new cells
- This layer later forms ridges and hollows
- Ridges and hollows are reflected on the surface of the skin
in the fingerprint

• Spinous layer
- Is thick
- Consists of large polyhedral cells containing fine tonofibrils
- Tonofibrils are made up of tonofilaments
- Tonofilaments are keratin intermediate filaments (one class
of the cytoskeleton of the cell)
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 Epidermis
• Granular layer
- Contains small keratohyalin granules in its cells
- Keratohyalin is involved in keratinization of the
skin

• Horny layer
- Forms the tough scalelike surface of the epidermis
- Is made up of closely packed dead cells containing
keratin
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 Epidermis
• Cells of the periderm are usually cast off during the
second part of intrauterine life

• They can be found in the amniotic fluid

• During the first 3 months of development, the

epidermis is invaded by cells arising from the neural
crest called melanocytes

• These cells synthesize melanin pigment in

melanosomes
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 Epidermis
• As melanosomes accumulate, they are
transported down dendritic processes of
melanocytes

• They are then transferred intercellularly to

keratinocytes of the skin and hair bulb

• In this manner, pigmentation of the skin and hair

is acquired

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 Clinical Correlates
Fingerprints
• The epidermal ridges that produce typical patterns
on the surface of the fingertips, palms of the hand,
and soles of the feet are genetically determined
• They form the basis for many studies in medical
genetics and criminal investigations
(dermatoglyphics)
• In children with chromosomal abnormalities, the
epidermal pattern on the hand and fingers is
sometimes used as a diagnostic tool
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 Clinical Correlates
Pigmentary disorders
• A large number occur
• Can be classified into diseases of melanocyte
development, function or survival

• Examples of diseases:
1. Melanocyte development
- Piebaldism: patchy absence of hair pigment
- Waardenburg syndrome (WS): feature patches of
white skin and hair
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 Clinical Correlates
2. Melanocyte function
- Various forms of albinism
- Is caused by the absence of tyrosinase enzyme
activity to convert tyrosine to melanin or the
inability of cells to take up tyrosine (precursor of
melanin)
- Characterised by globally reduced or absent
pigmentation in the skin, hair or eyes
- Are classified into different forms of
oculocutaneous albinism (OCA)

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 Clinical Correlates
3. Melanocyte survival
Vitiligo is the best example
- Results from destruction of melanocytes due
to an autoimmune disorder
- There is patchy loss of pigment from affected
areas including the skin and overlying hair and
the oral mucosa
- It is also associated with other autoimmune
disorders, particularly of the thyroid gland

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 Dermis
• Is derived from mesenchyme that has 3 sources:

1. Lateral plate mesoderm supplying cells for

dermis in the limbs and anterior trunk

2. Paraxial mesoderm supplying cells for dermis in

the posterior trunk

3. Ventral neural crest cells supplying cells for

dermis in the face and neck
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 Dermis
• During the 3rd and 4th months, the mesenchymal
tissue that will form the papillary dermis is called
the corium
• The corium forms many irregular papillary
structures called dermal papillae
• The papillae project upward into the epidermis
• Most of these papillae contain a small capillary or
sensory nerve end organ
• The deeper layer of the dermis, the subcorium,
contains large amounts of fatty tissue and forms
the reticular dermis
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 Dermis
• At birth, the skin is covered by a whitish paste
called vernix caseosa

• Vernix caseosa is formed by secretions from

sebaceous glands and degenerated epidermal
cells and hairs

• It protects the skin against the macerating action

of amniotic fluid

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 Clinical Correlates
Keratinization of the skin
• Ichthyosis
- Is excessive keratinization of the skin
- Is characteristic of a group of hereditary disorders
that are usually inherited as an autosomal
recessive trait but may also be X-linked
- In severe cases, ichthyosis may result in a
grotesque appearance, as in the case of a
harlequin ichthyosis fetus

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 Ichthyosis in a Harlequin Fetus

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 Hair
• Hairs begin development as solid epidermal
proliferations called hair buds from the germinative
layer

• The hair buds penetrates the underlying dermis

• At their terminal ends, the hair buds are invaginated

by hair papillae

• The hair papillae are rapidly filled with mesoderm in

which vessels and nerve endings develop

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 Hair
• Soon, cells in the center of the hair buds become
spindle-shaped and keratinized forming the hair
shaft
• Those in the periphery become cuboidal, giving
rise to the epithelial hair sheath
• The dermal root sheath is formed by the
surrounding mesenchyme
• A small smooth muscle called arrector pili muscle
is also derived from mesenchyme
• The muscle is usually attached to the dermal root
sheath
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 Hair
• Continuous proliferation of epithelial cells at the
base of the shaft pushes the hair upward
• By the end of the 3rd month, the first hairs appear
on the surface in the region of the eyebrow and
upper lip
• The first hair that appears is called the lanugo hair
• Lanugo hair is shed off at about the time of birth
• It is later replaced by coarser hairs arising from new
hair follicles

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 Hair
• The epithelial wall of the hair follicle usually
shows a small bud penetrating the surrounding
mesoderm
• Cells from these buds form the sebaceous glands
• Cells from the central region of the gland
degenerate, forming a fat-like substance called
sebum
• Sebum is secreted into the hair follicle, and from
there, it reaches the skin

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 Clinical Correlates
Abnormalities of Hair Distribution

Hypertrichosis
• Is excessive hairiness
• Caused by an unusual abundance of hair follicles
• It may be localized to certain areas of the body
• Usual areas are the lower lumbar region covering a spina
bifida occulta defect or may cover the entire body

Atrichia
• Congenital absence of hair
• Is usually associated with abnormalities of other ectodermal
derivatives, such as teeth and nails
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 Hypertrichosis

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 Sweat Glands
• There are two types: apocrine and eccrine

Eccrine sweat glands

• Form in the skin over most parts of the body
• Begin as buds from the germinative layer of the
epidermis
• These buds grow into the dermis and their end coils to
form the secretory parts of the glands
• Smooth muscle cells associated with the glands also
develop from the epidermal buds
• These glands function by merocrine mechanisms
(exocytosis) and are involved in temperature
regulation
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 Sweat Glands
Apocrine sweat glands
• Develop anywhere there is body hair, including the face,
axillae and pubic region
• Begin to develop during puberty
• Arise from the same epidermal buds that produce hair
follicles
• Hence, these sweat glands open onto hair follicles instead of
the skin
• The sweat produced by these glands contain lipids, proteins
and pheromones and odour originating from this sweat is due
to bacteria that break down these products
• It should be noted that these glands classified as apocrine
because a portion of the secretory cells is shed and
incorporated into the secretion
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 Mammary Glands
• The first indication of mammary glands is found in
the form of a bandlike thickening of the epidermis
called the mammary line or mammary ridge
• In a 7-week embryo, this line extends on each side
of the body from the base of the forelimb to the
region of the hindlimb
• Although the major part of the mammary line
disappears shortly after it forms, a small portion
in the thoracic region persists and penetrates the
underlying mesenchyme

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 Developing Mammary Gland

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 Mammary Glands
• Here it forms 16 to 24 sprouts, which in turn give
rise to small, solid buds
• By the end of prenatal life, the epithelial sprouts
are canalized and form the lactiferous ducts, and
the buds form small ducts and alveoli of the gland
• Initially, the lactiferous ducts open into a small
epithelial pit
• Shortly after birth, this pit is transformed into the
nipple by proliferation of the underlying
mesenchyme
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 Clinical Correlates
Mammary Gland Abnormalities

Polythelia
• Condition where accessory nipples have formed
due to the persistence of fragments of the
mammary line
• Accessory nipples may develop anywhere along
the original mammary line
• Usually appear in the axillary region

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 Child with Bilateral Polythelia

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 Clinical Correlates
Polymastia
• Occurs when a remnant of the mammary line
develops into a complete breast

Inverted nipple
• Condition in which the lactiferous ducts open
into the original epithelial pit that has failed to
evert
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 The End!

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