SKIN

AND ITS
APPENDAGES
By: Roxette Ann Marie D.
Rosete RMT
 SKIN
Or integument, is the tough protective,
external covering of the body

It is continuous with the mucosa of the

mouth, nose, anal canal, genital opening
and eyes.

Largest organ of the body.

Thinnest in the eyelids, thickest in the

sole of the feet.
 Functions of skin
Protection
Cushions and insulates and is waterproof
Protects from chemicals, heat, cold, bacteria
Screens UV

Synthesizes vitamin D with UV

Regulates body heat & excrete waste by means

of sweat

Prevents unnecessary water loss

Sensory reception (nerve endings)

 2 main Properties of the Skin

1. SEMI-PERMEABLE MEMBRANE
Can absorb certain substances
from its surface

2. BIOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION
Fingertips of the skin exhibits
shallow grooves and ridges ,
which called FINGERPRINTS, use
as basis of individual
identification.
 The 3 major layers of the SKIN

EPIDERMIS
Composed of epithelial tissue (stratified
squamous)
Non-vascularized
Derived form ectoderm

DERMIS underlies the epidermis

Tough leathery layer composed of fibrous
connective tissue
Good supply of blood
Derived from Mesoderm
 Hypodermis (not considered skin)
Made of adipose and areolar tissue
Stores fat, anchors skin, and protects
Epidermis

Dermis
Basement membra
Epidermis

Dermis

Hypodermis
EPIDERMIS
Refers to the keratinized stratified squamous
epithelium that forms the outer coat of the
skin. Completely renewed every 20-30 days.

The junction of the epidermis and dermis is

delineated well roughly. Tissue elements of the
dermis form irregular conical invaginations
called DERMAL PAPILLAE.

Epidermis has irregular conical invaginations

that invades dermis called EPIDERMAL
RIDGES (rete pegs; epidermal pegs)
TYPES OF SKIN
1.)THICK skin
Covers the palms and soles.
Consist of five layers from deepest to superficial.
Stratum germinativum(basale)
Stratum spinosum(prickle cell layer)
Stratum granulosum
Stratum lucidum(clear layer)
Stratum corneum(horny cell layer)

Cornified layer
Stratum lucidum(clear layer)
Stratum corneum(horny cell layer)

Stratum Malpighii
Stratum germinativum(basale)
Stratum spinosum(prickle cell layer)
Stratum granulosum
STRATUM GERMINATIVUM(BASALE)
Single layer of tall cuboidal
keratinocytes that rests on a
basement membrane.

Bounded laterally by desmosomes,

and to the basal lamina by
hemidesmosomes.

Keratinocytes here continuously

divides.
STRATUM SPINOSUM(PRICKLE CELL
LAYER)
Consists mainly of polyhedral
keratinocytes that arranged into
several layers.

Has limited capacity to mitose.

Tightly bounded laterally with

desmosomes, under light
microscope, the desmosomes
protrude from out of cells and
resembles spines or hairs.
 STRATUM GRANULOSUM
3-5 layers flattened keratinocytes

Has distinctive feature: keratohyaline

granules that is present in cytoplasm.
Lamellar granules, lipid-containing
membrane-bound secretory granules, their
content are deposited in intercellular
spaces. Together with desmosomes they
serves as barrier

Keratinocytes are already dead, no longer

capable of mitosis.
STRATUM LUCIDUM (CLEAR LAYER)
4-6 layers of flat, dead, anucleated,
devoid of organelles keratinocytes.

Their keratin filaments form thick

bundles that are parallel to the skin
surface.

Still bounded laterally by

desmosomes.
STRATUM CORNEUM (HORNY CELL
LAYER)
15-20 layers of very flat keratinocytes,
whose cytoplasm consist entirley of
keratin filaments. They are attached
loosely with desmosomes.

Stratum dysjunctum-the most

superficial layer of stratum corneum.
It consists of dehydrated cells, that
are continuously being shed or
desquamated.
2.)THIN skin
Covers the whole body except the palms and
soles.

Difference to thick skin:

Stratum germinativum is identical
to thick skin
Stratum spinosum is much thinner,
Stratum granulosum is poorly
developed,sometimes absent,
Stratum lucidum-absent
Stratum corneum much thinner
Epidermis and dermis of (a) thick skin and (b) thin skin
(which one makes the difference?)
DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CELLS IN THE
EPIDERMIS
 Keratinocytes
Principal cells of the
Epidermis, responsible for
skin renewal. Produce a
fibrous protein called
keratin

Are formed in the lowest

levels of the epidermis.

Pushed upward by the

production of new cells
beneath them.

Become dead and scale-like.

Millions rub off everyday
 Melanocytes
Synthesizes the
pigment melanin

Melan-black
melanocyte
Can transfer melanin
to keratinocytes Melanin in
keratinocytes
Protects skin from
ultraviolet light.
 Langerhans cells

Formed in bone
Langerhans
marrow.Macrophages cell

Move to the skin.

Serves as an APCs.

Most numerous in
stratum spinosum
 Merkel Cells

Can be found in the basal

region of the epidermis, and
numerous in in palm and
soles.

Disc-shaped cells with spiky

cytoplasmic processes

Connected to nerve cells from

dermis

Function as sensory receptors

for touch.
DERMIS

Much thicker than epidermis

Made up of 2 layers papillary and reticular

made up of connective tissue.
 1.) PAPILLARY LAYER
Made up of loose connective tissue.

Contains the dermal papillae, a conical

projections that delineates epidermis
contains capillary bed that supplies the
overlying epidermis with blood and nerve
endings like Meissners corpuscle.

Ridges formed from the papillary layer can

form finger prints.
 2.)RETICULAR LAYER
Thicker than papillary, responsible for the
toughness and strength of the skin.

Filled with dense irregular fibrous connective

tissue and matrix is filled with thick bundles
of collagen fibers (give the skin strength).

Richly supplied with blood vessels and lymph

vessels, it has hair follicles, oil and sweat
glands and sensory receptors .

Smooth muscle cells are also present, which

is associated with hair follicle, and are called
arrector pili muscles.
 HYPODERMIS
Loose CT that binds dermis of the
skin to underlying structures, and
not part of the skin, it allows the
skin to slide over the underlying
structures.

Contains adipose cells except from

some parts like eyelids.
 What causes the color of skin?
3 pigments contribute to skin color
Melanin- protein pigment (natural sunscreen)
Can range in color from yellow to reddish-brown to
black
Everyone has the same number of melanocytes but
make varying amounts and colors (differences in skin
color)
Increased melanin production can caused by sunlight.
Carotene-yellow to orange pigment found in
carrots.
Most commonly found in the palms or soles. Most
intense when large amounts of carotene-rich foods are
eaten.
Hemoglobin- Red blood gives a pinkish hue to
fair skin
The major appendages of the skin

Sweat glands

Sebaceous glands

Hairs

Nails
 Functions cont.
Thermoregulation- skin contains
sweat glands that secrete watery
fluid, that when evaporated, cools
the body.
Sensation- Skin contains sensory
receptors that detect cold, touch,
and pain.
Vitamin D synthesis- cholesterol
in the skin is bombarded by
sunlight and converted to vitamin D
(calcium cannot be absorbed from
digestive tract)
 Functions cont.
Blood reservoir- blood will be
moved from skin to muscles
during strenuous activity.
Excretion- Sweating is an
important outlet for wastes
such as salt and nitrogen
containing compounds. (urine)
END.