What Layer Of Skin Is Found Below The Epidermis?

Introduction

Skin is the largest organ in the torso and covers the trunk'due south entire external surface. It is fabricated upwardly of three layers, the epidermis, dermis, and the hypodermis, all three of which vary significantly in their beefcake and function. The skin'south construction is fabricated up of an intricate network which serves as the body'due south initial barrier against pathogens, UV light, and chemicals, and mechanical injury. It also regulates temperature and the amount of water released into the surround. This article discusses the relevant anatomical structures of the skin'due south epidermal layer, its structure, function, embryology, vascular supply, innervation, surgical considerations, and clinical relevance.

Skin Thickness

The thickness of each layer of the peel varies depending on trunk region and categorized based on the thickness of the epidermal and dermal layers. Hairless skin found in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet is thickest because the epidermis contains an extra layer, the stratum lucidum. The upper back is considered thickest based on the thickness of the dermis, but it is considered "thin pare" histologically because the epidermal thickness lacks the stratum lucidum layer and is thinner than hairless skin.

Layers of Epidermis

The layers of the epidermis include the stratum basale (the deepest portion of the epidermis), stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum, and stratum corneum (the most superficial portion of the epidermis).

Stratum basale, also known as stratum germinativum, is the deepest layer, separated from the dermis by the basement membrane (basal lamina) and attached to the basement membrane past hemidesmosomes. The cells found in this layer are cuboidal to columnar mitotically active stem cells that are constantly producing keratinocytes. This layer too contains melanocytes.

Stratum spinosum, 8-x cell layers,also known as the prickle cell layer contains irregular, polyhedral cells with cytoplasmic processes, sometimes chosen "spines", that extend outward and contact neighboring cells by desmosomes. Dendritic cells can be found in this layer.

Stratum granulosum, 3-5 cell layers, contains diamond shaped cells with keratohyalin granules and lamellar granules. Keratohyalin granules contain keratin precursors that eventually aggregate, crosslink, and form bundles. The lamellar granules contain the glycolipids that get secreted to the surface of the cells and part as a mucilage, keeping the cells stuck together.

Stratum lucidum, 2-3 cell layers,nowadays in thicker skin found in the palms and soles, is a thin articulate layer consisting of eleidin which is a transformation production of keratohyalin.

Stratum corneum, 20-30 cell layers,is the uppermost layer, fabricated up of keratin and horny scales fabricated up of dead keratinocytes, known as anucleate squamous cells. This is the layer which varies nigh in thickness, especially in callused pare. Inside this layer, the dead keratinocytes secrete defensins which are function of our first immune defense.

Cells of the Epidermis

Keratinocytes
Melanocytes
Langerhans' cells
Merkel'south cell

Keratinocytes

Keratinocytes are the predominant prison cell type of epidermis and originate in the basal layer, produce keratin, and are responsible for the formation of the epidermal water bulwark by making and secreting lipids. Keratinocytes also regulate calcium absorption by the activation of cholesterol precursors by UVB light to form vitamin D.

Melanocytes

Melanocytes are derived from neural crest cells and primarily produce melanin, which is responsible for the pigment of the skin. They are found between cells of stratum basale and produce melanin. UVB lite stimulates melanin secretion which is protective against UV radiations, interim as a congenital-in sunscreen. Melanin is produced during the conversion of tyrosine to DOPA past the enzyme tyrosinase. Melanin then travels from cell to cell past a process that relies on the long processes extending from the melanocytes to the neighboring epidermal cells. Melanin granules from melanocytes are transferred via the long processes to the cytoplasm of basal keratinocyte. Melanin transferred to neighboring keratinocytes past "paint donation"; involves phagocytosis of tips of melanocyte processes past keratinocytes.

Langerhans' Cells

Langerhans cells, dendritic cells, are the skins first line defenders and play a significant part in antigen presentation. These cells demand special stains to visualize, primarily found in the stratum spinosum. These cells are the mesenchymal origin, derived from CD34 positive stem cells of os marrow and are part of the mononuclear phagocytic system. They contain Birbeck granules, tennis racket shaped cytoplasmic organelles. These cells express both MHC I and MHC Ii molecules, uptake antigens in skin and transport to the lymph node.

Merkel Cells

Merkel cells are oval-shaped modified epidermal cells found in stratum basale, directly above the basement membrane. These cells serve a sensory function as mechanoreceptors for light bear on, and are most populous in fingertips, though also found in the palms, soles, oral, and genital mucosa. They are bound to adjoining keratinocytes by desmosomes and contain intermediate keratin filaments and their membranes interact with free nerve endings in the skin.

Dermis

The dermis is connected to the epidermis at the level of the basement membrane and consists of 2 layers, of connective tissue, the papillary and reticular layers which merge together without articulate demarcation. The papillary layer is the upper layer, thinner, composed of loose connective tissue and contacts epidermis. The reticular layer is the deeper layer, thicker, less cellular, and consists of dense connective tissue/ bundles of collagen fibers. The dermis houses the sweat glands, pilus, pilus follicles, muscles, sensory neurons, and blood vessels.

Hypodermis

The hypodermis is deep to the dermis and is also chosen subcutaneous fascia. It is the deepest layer of skin and contains adipose lobules forth with some skin appendages similar the hair follicles, sensory neurons, and claret vessels.

Structure and Function

The skin has many functions. It serves as a bulwark to water, invasion by microorganisms, mechanical and chemical trauma, and damage from UV calorie-free. The epidermal water barrier established by the prison cell envelop, a layer of insoluble proteins on the inner surface of the plasma membrane. It is formed by cross-linking of small proline-rich proteins and larger proteins similar cystatin, desmoplakin, filaggrin and contributes to strong mechanics of barrier. And the lipid envelope, a lipid/hydrophobic layer attached to the outer surface of the plasma membrane. As keratinocytes in stratum spinosum produce keratohyalin granules, they too produce lamellar bodies (containing a mixture of glycosphingolipids, phospholipids, and ceramides) assembled inside Golgi. Lamellar bodies' contents are then secreted by exocytosis into extracellular spaces betwixt the stratum granulosum and corneum. Skin is the first site of immunologicaldefense force by the activity of the Langerhans cells in the epidermis which are dendritic epidermal T lymphocytes and part of the adaptive immune organization. The skin preserves the bodies homeostasis past regulating temperature and water loss, while too serving both endocrine and exocrine functions. The endocrine functions include the product of vitamin D in the keratinocytes which are responsible for converting 7-dehydrocholesterol in the epidermis to vitamin D, with the assistance of UV low-cal from the lord's day. The keratinocytes express the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and also contain the enzymes needed to convert vitamin D to its active form of 1, 25 dihydroxy vitamin D. The significance of the VDR is that stimulation of it plays a function in the proliferation of the stratum basale and differentiation of keratinocytes as they movement upwards in the epidermis. The exocrine functions of the skin are by manner of the sweat and sebaceous glands. Another important part of the peel is asensation to touch, heat, common cold, and pain by the actions of the nociceptors. The general appearance, turgor, and other qualities too give insight into the general wellness of the torso. [vii][viii][9][ten]

Embryology

The epidermis is derived from ectodermal tissue. The dermis and hypodermis are derived from mesodermal tissue from somites. The mesoderm is also responsible for the germination of Langerhans cells. Neural crest cells, responsible for specialized sensory nerve endings and melanocyte germination migrate into the epidermis during epidermal development. [11][12]

Blood Supply and Lymphatics

Blood vessels and lymphatic vessels are establish in the dermal layer of the peel. Claret supply to the skin is an organization of two plexuses, the get-go lies between the papillary and reticular layers of the dermis and the 2d lie between the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. Supply to the epidermis is by way of the superficial arteriovenous plexus (subepidermal/papillary plexus). These vessels are of import for temperature regulation. The mechanism past which the trunk regulates temperature through the skin is very constructive and works by increased blood flow to the peel, transferring estrus from the body to the environment. The changes in blood flow are controlled by the autonomic nervous organization, sympathetic stimulation resulting in vasoconstriction (heat retention) and while vasodilation results in heat loss. Vasodilation of the blood vessels is the response to increased body temperature and is the result of inhibition of the sympathetic centers in the posterior hypothalamus whereas decreased body temperature will crusade vasoconstriction of skin claret vessels. [13] [xiv]

Nerves

Nerves of the peel include both somatic and autonomic fretfulness. The somatic sensory system is responsible for pain (nociceptors), temperature, low-cal touch, discriminative bear on, vibration, pressure, and proprioception medicated primarily by specialized cutaneous receptors/terminate organs including Merkel disks, Pacinian corpuscles, Meissner's corpuscles, and Ruffini corpuscles. The autonomic innervation is responsible for the control of the tone of the vasculature, pilomotor stimulation at the hair root, and sweating. The costless nerve endings extend into the epidermis and sense pain, estrus, and cold. They are most numerous in the stratum granulosum layer and surround most hair follicles. Merkel disks sense light bear on and accomplish the stratum basale layer. The other nervus endings are found in the deeper portions of the skin and include the Pacinian corpuscle which senses deep pressure level, Meissner'southward corpuscle which senses low-frequency stimulation at the level of the dermal papillae, and Ruffini corpuscles which sense pressure. [15][16][17]

Muscles

The arrector pili muscles are bundles of smooth muscle fibers that attach to the connective tissue sheath of pilus follicles. When the muscles contract, they pull the pilus follicle outward resulting in the hair erecting up but besides compresses the sebaceous glands, resulting in the secretion of their contents. Hair does not leave perpendicularly, just instead at an angle. This erection of hair also produces goosebumps, the bumpy appearance of the pare. [18]

Physiologic Variants

Skin is continuously shedding and desquamating and varies slightly depending on the body region. There are more layers of cells in thicker hairless skin with an additional layer, known equally the stratum lucidum. Overall, the procedure of jail cell division, desquamation, and shedding go as follows:

Cell sectionalization occurs in stratum basale/germinativum. One prison cell remains, another prison cell is pushed toward the surface. Basal cells begin synthesis of tonofilaments (composed of keratin) which are grouped into bundles (tonofibrils).
Cells are pushed into stratum spinosum. In the upper part of the spinous layer, cells begin to produce keratohyalin granules having intermediate-associated proteins, filaggrin, and trichohyalin; helps amass keratin filaments and conversion of granular cells to cornified cells, i.e. keratinization. Cells likewise produce lamellar bodies.
Cells are pushed into stratum granulosum and become flattened and diamond shaped. The cells accrue keratohyalin granules mixed between tonofibrils.
Cells keep to stratum corneum where they flatten and lose organelles and nuclei. The keratohyalin granules turn tonofibrils into a homogenous keratin matrix.
Finally, cornified cells reach the surface and are desquamated via a break-downwardly of desmosomes. Proteinase activity of KLK (kallikrein-related serine peptidase) is triggered past lowered pH nigh the surface.[19][20]

Surgical Considerations

Langer's Lines, besides known equally cleavage lines, are topological lines used to define the tension of the skin, corresponding to the alignment of collagen and elastic fibers in the reticular dermis. Surgical incisions made along these lines, less scarring will occur. [21]

Clinical Significance

There are numerous clinically significant aspects of the skin, including the dermatomes of the peel, peel segments divided based on the afferent nerves they are supplied past which are numbered according to the level of spinal vertebral from which they arise. In that location are vii cervical, twelve thoracic, v lumbar, and v sacral. Sure diseases like shingles, acquired by varicella-zoster infection, take hurting sensation and eruptive rashes that involve a dermatomal distribution. Dermatomes are useful in the diagnosis of vertebral spinal injury levels. Bated from the dermatomes, the cells of the epidermis are susceptible to neoplastic changes resulting in diverse cancer types. Some autoimmune and immunological diseases target the desmosomes and hemidesmosomes founds in the epidermis. Sure infections tin too disrupt the integrity of the epidermis along with drug reactions that present variably too.

Squamous cell carcinoma is cancer that arises from mutated keratinocytes, usually due to UV damage in individuals with Type I or II peel types (low-cal skin, blue or light-green optics, red or blonde hair, burn and never tan) and often appear as scaly, flaky, thick red patches that may bleed or fifty-fifty appear wart-similar. This type of skin cancer can metastasize. Squamous cell carcinoma may ascend from actinic keratosis, which is also caused past sun impairment to the epidermal layer of skin and may have cutaneous horns. Basal cell carcinoma is a cancer of the basal layers of the epidermis and is much less probable to metastasize. This type of skin cancer is more mutual in sun-exposed areas and often announced are pearly papules on the confront, with telangiectasias and ulcerate easily. Melanomas are cancers of the melanocytes and have a high metastatic potential, significantly mediated by the depth of the lesion. Melanomas tin can be establish anywhere on the trunk, are usually irregularly pigmented but can be amelanotic. Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis is a type of cancer where Langerhans cells accumulate in the body and result in the germination of granulomas, frequently in the bones, resulting in os pain. These granulomas can as well appear in the skin like rashes, erythematous papules or blisters. An interesting association with this condition is the effect of the pituitary gland, which tin be afflicted and individuals may present with diabetes insipidus, infertility, or other endocrine diseases due to bereft hormones. Other serious and deadly complications are due to pancytopenia (anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia) as a straight response to overcrowding by the Langerhans cells. Merkel cell carcinoma is an uncommon cancer of the Merkel cells and is categorized as neuroendocrine minor prison cell carcinoma

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune affliction that targets the intercellular proteins, desmosomes, that connect the keratinocytes to each other. Blisters form within the epidermis and are easily ruptured, resulting in acantholysis histologically. This disease is associated with a positive nikolsky sign, peeling abroad from the epidermis with rubbing of that area. Bullous Pemphigoid is another baking disease that results in tense subepidermal blisters in older populations, that are due to antibodies that target the hemidesmosomes that connect the epidermis at the level of the basement membrane to the extracellular matrix of the dermis. This condition is not acantholytic and is not associated with a positive nikolsky sign.

Infections that bear on the integrity of the pare include scalded skin syndrome caused by the exfoliative toxin released by staphylococcal aureus bacteria infection. This infection results in peeling away of the skin, positive nikolsky, an advent of a severe burn (very blood-red), and fever. Drug reactions similar Apparel syndrome, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnsons syndrome, and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis syndrome are ofttimes associated with certain medications that include sulfa-containing drugs, NSAIDs, and anti-seizure medications. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]

Other Bug

The epidermal layer of skin contains much of our normal flora and the microbiome of the epidermis varies based on the torso region. The microorganisms that inhabit our pare surface is nonpathogenic and can exist commensal or mutualistic in nature. The leaner that tend to predominate are staphylococci epidermidis, aureus, cutibacterium acnes, Corynebacterium, Streptococcus, candida and clostridium perfringens. When the protective skin barrier is altered, an infection can occur. [30]

Review Questions

Figure

Histology, Trichodysplasia spinulosa, Trichodysplasia spinulosa polyomavirus, Salubrious command on peak, TS pare on the lesser, Skin over view, Epidermis, Hair follicle, Acanthosis, Eosinophilic protein granules, trichohyalin, HE Stain. Contributed past Kazem (more than...)

Figure

Cantankerous department of layers of the skin. Hair follicles, pilus roots and hair shafts, sweat glands, pores, epidermis, dermis, hypodermis. Papillary and reticular layer. Eccrine sweat gland. Arrector pili muscles, sebaceous oil glands. Contributed by Chelsea (more...)

Figure

Illustration of cells of the epidermis. Stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum, stratum basale, dermis. Contributed by Chelsea Rowe

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