The histology of

Skin
Mangranti, Ashish
Gelal, Darpan
Skin
 The skin is the largest organ of the body.

 It is the external covering of the body.

 It weighs more than 6 pounds in average adult and covers

more than 3000 sq. inches.

 It is supplied with blood vessels and nerves.

 It is the largest sensory organ in the body, containing a

range of different receptors for touch, pressure, pain and
temperature.
Functions
 Protection from injuries.

 Protection from infection.

 Inhibits excessive loss of water and electrolytes.

 Regulates body temperature.

 Removes wastes.

 Activation of Vitamin D with the help of sunlight.

Skin Structure

• Epidermis

• Dermis

• Hypodermis
Strata of epidermis:

i) Stratum Corneum (C)

• The stratum corneum is the outermost strata of the
epidermis.

• It is mostly dead cells, filled with a protein substance

called keratin.

• It is thicker on the sole of the feet than on the eyelids

where there is less pressure.

ii) Stratum Granulosum (G)

• The stratum granulosum is one or more layers of cells
starting to die and become hard.

• They are the process of keratinization becoming fibrous

protein similar to that in hair and nails.
Stratum Spinosum (S)
• It composes most of the part of the epidermis.
• It is multi-layered and composed of polyhedral-shaped keratinocytes
with round-oval nuclei, prominent nucleoli and cytoplasm, forming a
pavement-like pattern.
• The stratum spinosum is partly responsible for the skin's strength
and flexibility.

Stratum Basale (B)

• The basal cells are arranged as a single layer of
cuboidal or low columnar cells.
• The basal proliferates continuously with repeated
mitotic divisions which provides cell for progressive
process of displacement towards the surface
(upward migration), with associated maturation to
renew the other layers
• They are attached to the basement membrane and
are irregular in structure.
Langerhans cells:

• Langerhans cells are intra-epidermal antigen

presenting cells, historically referred to as histiocytes.

• They are present in all layers of the epidermis but are

most easily recognised in the prickle cell layer.

• They are part of the endosome system. Their exact

function is not known.
Melanocytes
 Melanocytes produce the
pigment melanin which is
responsible for skin and hair
colour.
 Melanocytes are present as
separated individual cells in
the basal layer of the
epidermis and are more
numerous in areas which are
more exposed to light.
 Melanocytes can be
stimulated into producing
more melanin by increasing
exposure to UV light.
 Hair
 All the base of each hair
follicle is a bulb enclosing a
loop of capillaries.

 It is called the hair papilla,

and provides nourishment
to the hair.

 It is one of the few living

part of the hair, and is
responsible for hair growth.
Nails
 Fingernails and toenails are hard keratin structures that protect the ends of the fingers
and toes.
 The nail root, also called the germinal matrix or nailbed, begins several millimeters into
the finger and extends to the edge of the white, crescent-shaped lunula.
 This is where the growth occurs approximately 1 mm. per week.
 The under-surface of the nail plate or body of the nail has grooves that help anchor it.
Sebaceous Glands

 Sebaceous glands are oil

glands.
 They have tiny ducks that
open into each hair follicle.
 Each sebaceous gland
secretes sebum, which
lubricates the hair and skin.
 The amount of secretion
varies with age, puberty,
and pregnancy.
Sudoriferous Glands

 Sudoriferous glands are sweat glands.

 About 2 millions are distributed over

the surface of the body, more numerous
on the palm of the hands, sole of the
feet, forehead, and axillae or
underarms.
Dermis
 The dermis is composed of bundles of
collagen fibres and strands of elastic
fibres embedded in scanty amounts of
acellular ground substance, together
with occasional fibroblasts which
synthesise the collagen, elastic fibres
and matrix.
 The dermis contains the vascular
supply and innervation of the skin and
has two layers, a superficial papillary
dermis beneath the epidermis and a
deeper reticular dermis which borders
the subcutis.
 Micrograph (a) shows the papillary
dermis P, which is loose and contains
very fine, interlacing collagen and
elastic fibres that stain red and black,
respectively, in the EVG
 Hypodermis
 The hypodermis (subcutaneous layer
, or superficial fascia) lies between
the dermis and underlying tissues and
organs.
 It consists of mostly adipose tissue
and is the storage site of most body
fat.
 It is avascular, receiving nourishment
from vessels in the underlying
dermis.
 Its only innervation (nerve supply) is
by unencapsulated (free) nerve
endings.