The study of skin (dermatology) is the acquisition of knowledge of its anatomical structure, physiological and pathological characteristics. The study of skin structure includes the anatomy and histology of skin components and the constituent cells.
The study of skin structure and its physiology helps us in acquisition of the required knowledge for getting and maintaining younger, healthier looking skin. The human skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system. The skin is the covering of the body, protecting all the internal organs. The structure of skin is multilayered with individual layers having multiple functions.
Skin structure and layers
Skin contains two primary layers, namely epidermis and dermis.Epidermis structure
The epidermis is the outer primary layer.
The epidermis structure contains strata, corneum, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum and germinativum.
The melanocytes, melanosomes, melanin pigments, Langerhans cells and Merkel cells are also present.
About 90% of the cells present in epidermal layer of skin are keratinocytes.
The epidermis lacks blood vessels, lymph vessels and capillaries.
Study of skin structure - epidermis- Stratum corneum
The stratum corneum (meaning 'horned layer') is the outermost layer of the epidermis and is located above the stratum lucidum or the stratum granulosum depending upon the overall thickness of epidermis.
The stratum corneum structure contains 15 to 20 layers of flattened dead cells (corneocytes), ceramides, corneodesmosomes, dense network of keratin and glutenous protein.
- Stratum lucidumThe stratum lucidum (meaning 'clear layer') is a thin, translucent, clear, flattened layer located between stratum corneum and the stratum granulosum layers in the epidermis.
The stratum lucidum structure is composed of 3-5 layers of dead eleidin-filled keratinocytes and is readily visible only in areas of thick skin like palms and soles.
- Stratum granulosum
The stratum granulosum (or granular layer) is a thin layer of cells lying between the stratum lucidum and the stratum spinosum layers of the epidermal skin.
Keratinocytes, also known as granular cells, containing keratohyalin granules are found in the stratum granulosum.
As these keratinocytes migrate to stratum corneum, they secrete lamellar bodies into the extracellular space to form the hydrophobic lipid envelope.
- Stratum spinosum
The stratum spinosum meaning 'spinous layer' is located between the stratum granulosum and stratum basale layers of the epidermis.
The stratum spinosum is also known as prickle-cell layer.
Keratinization, synthesis of cytokeratin and formation of tonofibrils and then the desmosomes takes place in the polyhedral keratinocytes present in the stratum spinosum of epidermal skin.
- Stratum basale (germinativum)
In the structure of epidermis, the stratum basale (aka stratum germinativum) is the innermost layer of epidermis lying below the stratum spinosum layer.
The stratum basale structure is composed of a continuous layer of basal keratinocyte cells, usually with one cell thickness.
The stratum basale also contains melanocytes, Langerhans cells and Merkel cells.
Structure of dermis
The dermis is the inner primary layer of the skin.
The dermis lies between the epidermis layer and lower subcutaneous tissues.
Its structure comprises two sublayers namely, the outer papillary dermis and inner reticular dermis.
The dermis is bound to the epidermis through a basement membrane.
This layer contains glandular structures like sweat glands, sebaceous glands and apocrine glands.
Collagen, elastic fibers, and extrafibrillar matrix are some of the components of its structure.
Nerve endings (mechanoreceptors), fibroblasts, macrophages, adipocytes, lymphatic vessels and blood vessels are also found in this layer.
- Papillary dermis
The papillary dermis is the outermost layer of the dermis and found above the reticular dermis.
The dermal papillae are small finger-like extensions of the papillary dermis into the epidermis.
The dermal papillae, when prominent, form the papillary ridges (fingerprints).
The papillary dermis structure is composed of collagen fibers, blood vessels, and nerve cells.
- Reticular dermis
The reticular dermis is the innermost layer of the dermis and is found below the papillary dermis.
It composes of dense irregular connective tissue, collagen fibers and dermal elastic fibers.
Most of the components of the dermis are located in this layer.
Skin structure terminology
adipocytes (lipocytes) - fat cells storing and releasing lipids basement membrane - a thin layer of connective tissue fibers binding epidermis and dermis ceramide - waxy lipid molecule composed of sphingosine and a fatty acid collagen - structural protein synthesized by fibroblasts corneocyte - dead, flattened, keratin-filled, transformed keratinocyte squamous cell in the stratum corneum. corneodesmosome - modified desmosome holding corneocytes together cytokeratin - proteins of keratin-containing intermediate filaments dermis - primary inner layer of skin desmosomes - complexes of cell adhesion proteins and linking proteins epidermis - primary outer layer of skin fibroblast - a cell synthesizing the extracellular matrix and collagen integumentary system - organ system consisting skin and subcutaneous tissue keratin - a family of fibrous protein structures of human skin keratinization - terminal differentiation and cornification keratinocyte - predominant cell type in the epidermis keratohyalin - a protein structure forming dense cytoplasmic granules lamellar bodies - secretory organelles secreted from keratinocytes Langerhans cells - dendritic cells (DCs) or antigen-presenting cells macrophage - an immune cell that engulfs foreign proteins and dead cells mechanoreceptor - a sensory receptor that responds to mechanical pressure or distortion melanin pigment - a group of naturally occurring dark pigments melanocyte - melanin producing cell melanosome - organelle found in melanocyte and is the site of synthesis, storage and transport of melanin Merkel cells - a mechanoreceptor in the epidermis with sensitivity to light touch papillary dermis - outermost layer of dermis reticular dermis - innermost layer of dermis stratum corneum - means 'horned layer' / outermost epidermal layer of skin stratum lucidum - means 'clear layer' / located between the stratum corneum and stratum granulosum stratum granulosum - means 'granular layer' / located between stratum lucidum and stratum spinosum stratum spinosum - means 'spinous layer' / located between stratum granulosum and stratum basale stratum basale - also known as basal layer or stratum germinativum / innermost layer of epidermis subcutaneous tissue - a layer tissue below the dermis tonofibrils - cytoplasmic protein structures converging at desmosomes
The dermis layer of the skin is the area of maximum activity. Dermis contains nerve endings and all skin sensations are felt at this region. There is connective tissue in this layer and it cushions all the strain and stress. The collagen and connective tissue present in the dermis impart stretchability and elasticity to the skin. Hypodermis is the layer below the dermis and it connects the skin to the bones and the muscles.
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| Interesting topics in natural skin care: |
| Types of skin discolorations. |
| Dermis layer structure. |
| Papillary layer of dermis. |
| Study of reticular layer of dermis. |
| Hypodermis layer. |
| Nourishing skin. |
| Know your skin. |
| Baby milk spots. |
| Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis. |
