Consists of the skin, hair, oil, sweat glands, nails and sensory
receptors.
Functions of the skin
Regulates body temperature
Stores blood
Protects body from external environment
E.g Chemicals. Sunlight. Water loss. Microbes.
Detects sensations
Excretes and absorbs substances
E.g. urea in sweat. Sebum.
Synthesises vitamin D
SKIN STRUCTURE
EPIDERMIS
DERMIS
HYPODERMIS
Subcutaneous layer of loose, fibrous connective tissue
Inside layer
Outside layer
Dermo-Epidermal junction
Basement membrane that joins the Epidermis & Dermis
Composed of 3 layers:(Top) lamina lucida, lamina densa and lamina fibroreticularis (Bottom)
RETE RIDGES - projections down the way form the epidermis to the dermis. DERMAL PAPILLAE -
nipple shaped structures project into the undersurface of the epidermis.
Rete Ridges increase surface area for molecules passing between dermis and epidermis. Networks of tiny
blood vessels run through the ridges, bringing food,
vitamins and oxygen to the epidermis.
Rete Ridges are not present in the skins of unborn babies. Ageing skin - rete ridges get smaller and flatter.
5 layers of the epidermis
Stratum Corneum
Consists of large, flat, dead cells (10-30 cells thick) - keratinocytes/corneocytes arranged in parallel rows
Cells have lost all organelles and most water content
Cells are continuously shed and replaced by cells from the deeper strata. It's key role is to
prevent loss of moisture from tissues through evaporation - Transepidermal water loss
Intercellular space filled with cement which holds the cells together.
This keratinised layer consists of a soft keratin which helps keep the skin elastic
CORNIFIED ZONE - DEAD OR DYING CELLS
Stratum Lucideum
Body has 'thick' (glabrous/non-hairy) skin
Only appears in palms of hands and soles of feet
Acts as a protective shield against UV rays
Consists of 3-5 layers of flattened, clear, dead cells.
Contains a protein called Eleidin
Stratum Granulosum
Usually 3 to 5 layers thick of flattened keratinocytes
Keratinisation process begins
Newly formed cells in the St. Basale are slowly
pushed to the surface. As the cells move from one
epidermal layer to the next, they accumulate more
and more keratin.
Cells begin to die - the nuclei begins to disintegrate (lysosomes) along with other cellular organelles
The cells become flattened and accumulate large granules called keratohyaline.
Stratum Spinosum
8-10 layers of many sided keratinocytes fit closely together
Linked by desmosomes
Provides strength and flexibility to skin
Cell division & growth occuring
Cells possess large amounts of keratin filament bundles
Spiny/prickly layer
Contains non-keratinocyte cells called Langerhans cells
Composed of a single row of cuboidal or
columnar keratinocytes.
Cells have an oval nucleus, prominent nucleoli, little heterochromatin (responsible for DNA/genes).
Have many mitochondria, free ribosomes, nuclei, may also have cytoskeletal filaments (actin
micro filaments and keratin filament bundles) and Tonofilaments.
Mitochondria - powerhouses of cell
Cytoskeletal - filaments -
give the skeleton to the cell
itself.
Tonofilaments - made up of keratin
converge together at the site of the
desmosome.
Some cells in this layer
are stem cells that
undergo cell division
(MITOSIS) to
continually produce new
KERATINOCYTES.
Sits on basement membrane next to the dermis
Cells attached to the basement membrane by HEMIDESMOSOMES
Also contains
Melanocytes and Merkel
cells - both are types of
Non-Keratinocyte cells
MALPIGHIAN LAYER - ACTIVE/GROWING CELLS
EPIDERMOPOIESIS
Cells being made/cell growth
Consists of stratified squamous epithelium.
There is continuous replacement of cells. Renewed every 15-30 days.
Does not contain blood vessels - AVASCULAR
It is translucent.
The palms and soles are thicker
Cells of the Epidermis - Keratinocytes - 90% of epidermal cells. Melanocytes - 10% - found mainly in Basale layer.
Langherhans cells (dendritic cells) found in Spinosum layer - important in immune reactions. Merkel cells
(dendritic cells) are found in Basale layer - gather sensory information (touch). Form desmosomes with
keratinocytes.
Integumentum means COVER
4.5-5 Kilos - skin weight of a normal adult
2m2 - surface area of skin
0.5mm thick -eyelids to 5mm think - upper back.
We lose about 30-40k of cells every minute
19 million cells are in each square inch of human skin
32 million bacteria are found on each square inch of human skin
Langer's/Cleavage Lines - lines of
tension within the skin. Surgeons try
to follow when making incisions -
heaiing is faster and scarring is
minimal
SKIN PIGMENTATION
The difference in pigmentation that
determines racial types is in the number of
MELANOSOMES, i.e. the organelle within
the melanocyte that produces pigment.
Disorders of Pigmentation: Albinism (involves a lack of Tyrosine), Vitiligo, Freckles