Skin Structure and

The Epidermis

Integumentary Dermis and Accessory

Structures
System Skin Colour
Common Skin
Problems

Functions of Skin

- sweating
- blood flow regulation

- keratin, sweat, sebum,

melanin

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 - tactile and thermal

- some water loss

- lipid soluble substances

- requires UV stimulation

Structure of the Skin

1. Introduction
skin: - less complex than other organs
- largest organ in the body
- 7% of total body weight

a group of tissues working

together to form certain functions

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- basic structure of skin similar in all mammals
- consists of two main regions

stratified epithelium
basement membrane
connective tissue
fascia (fibrous connective
tissue), fat

hypodermis = subcutaneous tissue

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2. Epidermis
- stratified squamous epithelium

- surface consists of dead cells packed

with keratin

- sparse nerve endings for touch and pain

- 4 to 5 layers (strata) of distinct cell types

Two Main KERATINOCYTES

Cell Types • Main cell type of epidermis
• Produce keratin intermediate
EPIDERMIS filaments
• Provide structure to skin, hair
and nails
• Water-proofing (protective
function)
• Keratinized tissue = dry
• Non-keratinized tissue = wet

MELANOCYTES
• Produce pigments
eumelanin/pheomelanin, giving
skin and hair its color
• Protects from harmful UV rays

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 Two Other Cell Types

- small numbers
- sense of touch
- associated with underlying
nerve fiber

- macrophages
- originate in bone marrow
- stand guard against toxins
and pathogens
- alert immune system

Layers of the Epidermis

- aka stratum germinativum

- single layer of cuboidal or

columnar stem cells

- sitting on top of
basement membrane

- these cells continuously produce new keratinocytes

- also find Merkel cells and melanocytes in this layer

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 - superficial to (above)
stratum basale

- consists of many (~ 10)

layers of keratinocytes

- upper layers of cells

become flattened and lose
capacity to divide

- Langerhans cells found here; often hard to see

name derived from appearance

during tissue preparation for slides

- middle layer of epidermis

- consists of 3-5 layers of flattened

keratinocytes undergoing apoptosis

- none of the cells above this layer

receive any nutrients from blood
vessels in dermis and therefore die

- secrete a substance between cells that acts as a

waterproofing agent

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 - found only in thickest skin

- consists of a few rows of flattened keratinocytes

- outermost layer

- many layers of dead keratinocytes

- cells completely filled with keratin

- protect skin against abrasion and penetration

- also makes the skin waterproof

- in thick skin, the

stratum corneum
becomes very
prominent

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Layers and Cells of the Epidermis

dead
keratinocytes

dendritic cell

melanocyte

basement
membrane

Merkel cell

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3. Dermis

- well supplied with blood vessels, glands, nerve

endings

- hair follicles and nail roots embedded here

- smooth muscle attached to hair follicles

- in face, skeletal muscle attached to dermal

collagen fibers - important in facial expression

- boundary between dermis and epidermis

• interacts with epidermis

through dermal papillae
and epidermal ridges

• contains circulatory
vessels and nerves that
Dermal supply the epidermis
papillae

Epidermal
ridges

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 - most of the dermis
• toughest layer of skin

• thick collagen bundles

produce cleavage lines
(e.g., palm of hand)

• contains blood vessels,

nerves and other
Dermal accessory structures
papillae
Papillary
layer
Epidermal
ridges

epidermis

dermis

hypodermis

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 - result from epidermal
ridges / dermal papillae

- stretching of skin from

obesity or pregnancy
can tear elastic fibers

- tension
lines that
run
parallel to
collagen
in dermis

cleavage lines

- incisions across
these lines heal
more slowly than
incisions along
the lines

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4. Hypodermis (or subcutaneous layer)

Functions:
- protects underlying structures

- stores energy

- thermal insulation

- storage differs slightly

in males and females

Accessory Structures

1. Hair
- grow from follicles in dermis or hypodermis

Distribution:

lips, nipples, parts of

except: genitals, palms, parts of
fingers/toes
- numbers of hairs doesn’t differ
much between people

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Anatomy:

epidermis

subcutaneous
layer

Arrector Pili Muscles

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 Cross- section of hair

MEDULLA
• Cells contain soft keratin
• Formed by cells closest to
the hair matrix

CORTEX
• Cells contain hard keratin
• Formed by cells near the
edge of the hair matrix

CUTICLE
• Cells contain hard keratin
• Formed by cells at the edge of
the hair matrix

Types of Hair:

- usually disappears prior

to birth
- can reappear in
malnourished individuals
- diagnostic sign of eating disorders such as
anorexia nervosa

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After birth, lanugo replaced by:

- finer than lanugo, unpigmented

- most easily observed on children
and adult women

- some replaces vellus hair,

some develops after puberty
- more common in men

2. Glands

- nearly always connected to

hair

- keeps hair and

skin soft

- antibacterial
properties

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 - simple, coiled tubular glands

pore

- pubic and
axilla
- part of cell
secreted - much more
- secrete into common
hair follicles - distributed all
over body
- none of cell
secreted

- produce cerumen (earwax)

- traps dust, small particles before they enter ear

- antibacterial

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- channel it through ducts to a nipple

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 Skin Colour

Skin color is determined by three pigments:

- blood pigment
- causes light complexions to look pink
(or blue)

- pigment produced by melanocytes

- increases in people exposed to more UV

- yellow-orange pigment from food that

builds up in the skin

- melanocytes
produce melanin
which largely
controls skin colour

- everybody has about

the same number of
melanocytes

darker skinned people

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 - melanin (in melanosomes)
disperses into adjacent
keratinocytes

- protects nuclei from

further UV exposure

- skin lightens (tan disappears) as these

keratinocytes are sloughed off at skin surface

Abnormal Skin Colour of Diagnostic Value

- blueness of skin resulting from lack of
oxygen

often observed
in newborns lips and fingernails

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 - abnormal redness of skin
- increased blood flow

- anger, exercise, embarrassment

Erythema toxicum
Erythema migrans - common generalized rash
Lyme disease of newborns

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 - so little blood flow that white colour of
dermal collagen shows through

e.g. Raynauds syndrome

- episodic vasoconstriction of
the small digital arteries with
exposure to cold

- yellowing of skin and whites of eyes

- due to high levels of bilirubin in blood

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 - mass of clotted blood showing
through skin

Subungual Hematoma

- hemotomas can move!

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 Aging

• Epidermis gets thinner and harder to repair

when damaged
• Amount of collagen in dermis decreases
(reduced skin firmness)

• Elasticity of the tissue

decreases (appearance of
wrinkles)

• Cumulative UV exposure
increases risk of skin cancer

• Hair thins, nail growth slows, glandular secretions

decrease

Life Cycle of a
Keratinocyte

- mitosis of stem cells

- as new cells form, older
ones pushed towards
surface
- takes about 40 days

dander

dandruff

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 Psoriasis - a skin disorder in the epidermis

- cells divide more quickly

than normal
- shed in 7-10 days
- abnormal development
of keratin
- treatments designed to
decrease rate of cell division

Common Skin Problems

1. Fungal Infections

- a common fungal
infection of the skin

- not due to a worm!

- particularly common
in children

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- fungus that causes
itching, redness, and
cracking

- bacteria can enter and

cause an infection

- thrive in a warm, moist

environment

- local growths in the skin

that are caused by human
papillomavirus (HPV)
infection

- typically disappear on
their own with time, but it
may take years.

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2. Acne

- affects almost all males

and females

- not caused by bacteria

although bacteria play a role
in its development

- sebaceous glands are

stimulated by elevated
levels of hormones

- ducts of glands more likely

to clog during this time

3. Eczema
- general term for many types
of skin inflammation
(dermatitis)

most
common

- barrier function of skin

doesn’t work properly

environmental factors 
molds, pollen, or pollutants;

contact irritants  soaps,

detergents, nickel (in jewelry),
or perfumes

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4. Burns
first degree second degree

third degree

5. Skin Cancer

- usually isolated to upper regions of skin so detected

early

- overexposure to skin
a major factor

- three common types

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- occur on sun-exposed
regions of skin

- rarely spread to other

regions

- rarely fatal

- tend to be translucent

- will spread more easily,

particularly if found on lips
or ears
- appear as red, crusted or
scaly patch

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- spread most easily

- most serious

- asymmetrical, irregular
border

Summary