Epidermis, Dermal-Epidermal Junction, Dermis, Subcutis, Skin Appendages

1.
STRUCTURE OF THE EPIDERMIS AND BASEMENT MEMBRANE

MAIN FUNCTIONS OF SKIN:
1. Barrier and Protection against the external environment
2. Thermoregulation (e.g., perspiration, regulation of blood circulation)
3. Sensory function: sensations of pressure, vibration, touch, pain, and temperature
4. Hormone synthesis of vitamin D
5. Melanin synthesis: Provides protection against UV radiation and determines the colour of the skin and iris
STRUCTURE OF THE SKIN

- Skin is composed of the Cutis (including epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue) and Skin Appendages
o From Superficial to Deep: Epidermis, Dermal-epidermal junction, Dermis, Subcutis, Skin Appendages
- It occupies an area of 1.5 – 2 m2 largest organ in humans
- Thinnest sites are the eyelids and scrotum; Thickest are the soles and palms
- Total weight can reach 20kg, about 16% of total body weight
- Has an average pH of 5.5 creating the acid mantle - this is the result of substances such as amino acids,
lactic acid and fatty acids in perspiration, sebum and the hormones
EPIDERMIS
- Non-vascularized
- Consists of five layers
- Maintains the skin's barrier function
DERMAL-EPIDERMAL JUNCTION
- Consists of a basement membrane that anchors the
epidermis to the dermis
o The basement membrane consists of two layers.
 Lamina lucida (superficial)
 Lamina densa (deeper)
- Hemidesmosomes: connect the epidermis to the basal cell layer
- Collagen fibrils: connect the basal cell layer to the papillary layer
LAYERS OF THE EPIDERMIS

- Epidermis is the outermost layer of skin and is derived from Ectoderm
- It’s primarily composed of keratinocytes, which constantly regenerate
approximately every 30 days
- Stratum CORNEUM: outer layer of the epidermis
o Consists of dead (anuclear), keratin-filled cells Layers: C L G S B
o This layer is constantly being sloughed off Come Let’s Get Some Beers
- Stratum LUCIDEM: thin, translucent layer
o Located only on thick skin (palms and soles)
o Composed of a homogeneous layer of keratinocytes with no nuclei or organelles
- Stratum GRANULOSUM: also called the granular layer
o Contains keratohyalin
o This layer has waterproof properties
- Stratum SPINOSUM
o Composed of actively dividing keratinocytes with spinous-like projections (prickle cells)
o This layer produces keratin and induces keratinization
o This layer also contains Langerhans cells
- Stratum BASALE (also called the basal cell layer)
o Stem cells of the epidermis (their daughter cells migrate upwards and differentiate into other cells)
o Melanocytes and Merkel cells are also located in this layer
CELLS OF THE EPIDERMIS - mainly composed of four different types of cells

1. Keratinocytes
- Principal cells of the epidermis and are located throughout the whole epidermis
- Mitotically active in the basal layer (basal cells)
- Connected to the basement membrane via hemidesmosomes
- Primarily protect against environmental damage and form a barrier against pathogens
- Protect against UV radiation by storing melanin produced by melanocytes
- Produce proinflammatory mediators to activate the immune system when exposed to pathogens
- Aids in process of wound healing stratum basale is regenerative and it proliferates to fill skin defects
- Form tight junctions with nerve endings and hold lymphocytes and Langerhans cells in place
2. Melanocytes
- Melanin-producing cells derived from neural crest cells, which synthesize and store melanin
- They are located in the hair, iris and choroid of the eye, and stratum basale of the skin
- Melanin is a dark pigment synthesized and stored in melanosomes (organelles within melanocytes)
- Dendritic processes transfer melanosomes to adjacent and distant keratinocytes
- Melanocytes are stimulated by MSH, ACTH, and sunlight (UV-A)
o MSH and ACTH share the same precursor, proopiomelanocortin (POMC)
3. Langerhans cells
- Macrophages of the skin; a type of dendritic cell – acts as antigen-presenting cells (APCs)
- They are located in the stratum spinosum
- Mesodermal origin
4. Merkel cells
- Mechanoreceptors for deep static touch features (e.g., shapes, edges)
- Mainly located in the stratum basale
- They surround richly innervated areas of connective tissue, such as the fingertips
BASEMENT MEMBRANE
- Is the communication channel between epidermis and dermis
o The dermis supports the epidermis providing nutrients and protecting it
Structures
- Basal cell membrane
o Selectively permeable membrane
o Hemidesmosomes on dermal side
- Lamina lucida
o Appears clear under electron microscope
o Contains dense structure holding anchoring filaments (type 7 collagen), fibronectin and laminin (a
glycoprotein)
o Contains pemphigoid antigens
- Lamina densa
o Appears dense under electron microscope
o Made up of type 4 collagen and heparan sulphate
o Contains epidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigen
- Sublamina densa
o Cross banded fibrils bind lamina densa to papillary collagen
- Collection of three cell layers between the epidermis and the dermis (lamina lucida, lamina densa, and
lamina propria; comprised of proteins (primarily laminins, proteoglycans, and types IV and VII collagens)
- Desmosomes (cells responsible for adhesion) serve as binding cells between basal layer of skin and upper
lamina lucida
- Anchoring fibrils and a matrix of fibers at varying stages of maturity connect thicker lamina densa layer to
upper layer of dermis
- BMZ semipermeable to water; limits water passage to maintain skin hydration and support viscoelasticity
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- The skin acts as a reservoir for water and contains approximately 20% of the total body water
- Skin is a continuous matrix comprised mostly of extracellular rather than intracellular tissues
- The structural and mechanical properties occur because the extracellular space is filled with water (60–
72% of total weight of skin), collagen (30%), elastin (.2%), and glycosaminoglycans (GAGS; .03%) such as
hyaluronic
- Cellular components and non-collagenous proteins of skin comprise less than 1% of the total weight of skin

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1.

STRUCTURE OF THE EPIDERMIS AND BASEMENT MEMBRANE

STRUCTURE OF THE SKIN

LAYERS OF THE EPIDERMIS

CELLS OF THE EPIDERMIS - mainly composed of four different types of cells

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