STRUCTURE OF

SKIN
R. MANIMOZHI
FIRST PROFESSIONAL B.S.M.S
 SKIN
• The skin is the outer covering of the body.
• It is the largest organ of the body.
• It covers around 7600cm² area in an average adult and accounts for
approximately 7% of the person’s total body weight.
• The general appearance and condition of the skin are clinically important
because it provides clues to certain body functions and dysfunctions.
• Thus skin reflects our general health. Healthy skin indicates a healthy
body.
 INTRODUCTION
• The skin consists of two principal layers:
1. Epidermis
2. Dermis
 EPIDERMIS
• The epidermis is a superficial avascular layer of stratified squamous keratinized epithelium.
• It is derived from ectoderm.
• It varies in thickness from 0.007 to 0.12mm.
• The various appendages of skin :
1. Sweat glands
2. Sebaceous glands
3. Hair
4. Nails
are specialized derivatives of epidermis.
• Epidermis consists of four main types of cells:
1. KERATINOCYTES (90%) :
• These cells are arranged in four or five layers.
• They produce keratin, a protein that protects the skin from heat, microbes and chemicals.
2. MELANOCYTES (8%) :
• These cells produce melanin pigment that imparts colour to the skin and absorbs ultraviolet
light to protect the skin from cancer to a certain extent.
3. LANGERHANS CELLS :
• These cells arise from bone marrow and migrate to the epidermis.
• They participate in immune response and protect the skin against viral and other infections.
4. MERKEL CELLS :
• These cells are located in the deeper part of the epidermis and come in contact with sensory
neurons.
• They acts as a receptors for touch sensation.
 LAYERS OF EPIDERMIS
• Depending on the skin type: thin and thick, the skin is made up of four or five
layers.
• From deep to superficial:
1. Stratum Basale
2. Stratum Spinosum
3. Stratum Granulosum
4. Stratum Lucidum
5. Stratum Corneum.
1. STRATUM BASALE :
• It is also known as Stratum germinatum.
• It is the deepest layer and consists of a single layer of cuboidal or columnar
cells.
• The cells of this layer constantly divide by mitotic activity.
• The newly formed cells move towards the superficial layer to renew the
epidermis.
• It usually takes about 6-8 weeks for the cells to move from the stratum basale
to the surface of the skin.
• This layer contains melanocytes.
• It consists of specialized sensory cells called Merkel cells which acts as a
mechanoreceptor.
2. STRATUM SPINOSUM :
• It consists of several layers of polygonal cells, with a centrally located
large oval nucleus.
• The cells are held together by desmosomes.
• Fixation during histological preparation causes shrinkage of the cell
membrane, giving the cell a spiny appearance hence the name stratum
spinosum or prickle cell layer
3. STRATUM GRANULOSUM:
• It consists of three or four rows of flattened cells with pyknotic nuclei
showing signs of degeneration.
• The cytoplasm contains kertahyalin granules.
• This granules are made up of histidine rich protein called filaggrin.
4. STRATUM LUCIDUM :
• It is a thin clear glassy layer. The nucleus, organelles and membrane of
cells are not visible under a light microscope.
• It is found only in thick skin such as soles of feet and palms of hands.
5. STRATUM CORNEUM :
• It is the most superficial layer of the skin. It consists of many (25-30)
layers of fully keratinized flattened scale like dead cells.
• These cells are filled with a protein called keratin.
• This layer is cornified and is the real protective layer of skin.
 CLINICAL ANATOMY
Skin cancer :
• It is relatively common in fair skinned persons who are exposed to too
much of sunlight.
• Types of skin cancer:
1. Basal cell carcinoma: it is the most common type and it is located in the
upper part of the face. It arises from the cells of the stratum basale.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma: It arises from cells of stratum spinosum and
occurs in sun exposed parts of the body generally in the region of face.
3. Malignant melanoma or melanocarcinoma :
• It arises from melanocytes and is rapidly spreading malignant tumour of
skin.
 DERMIS
• The dermis is a deep vascular layer of skin derived from mesoderm.
• It is thicker than the epidermis and consists of collagen and elastic fibres.
• It also consists of glands, nerves, lymphatics and blood vessels.
• The smooth muscles of the dermis are associated with hair follicles as
arrectores pili muscles.
 LAYERS OF DERMIS
• The dermis is usually divided into two layers :
1. Superficial papillary layer.
2. Deep reticular layer.
1. PAPILLARY LAYER :
• This layer is in contact with the epidermis and accounts for about one
fifth of the entire thickness of the dermis.
• It forms numerous conical blunt projections called dermal papillae
extending into the epidermis.
• These papillae are best developed in the thick skin of the palms and soles.
• The dermal papillae contain vascular loops and specialized nerve endings.
2. RETICULAR LAYER :
• The reticular layer of the dermis is the deep layer of dermis and consists
mainly of thick bundles of type 1 collagen fibers.
• It also consists considerable numbers of elastic fibres.
• The dermis rests on the superficial fascia through which it is attached to
deeper structures.
• It contains epidermal derived structures like sweat glands, hair follicles
and sebaceous glands.