Block 9 Histology Flashcards
What are the three layers of the skin, from superficial to deep? How do they stain on H&E?
- Epidermis - purple/blue
- Dermis - pink (mostly collagen)
- Subcutis - clear (mostly adipose)
Describe the composition of the epidermis.
Multiple layers of keratinocytes (keratin-containing epithelial cells) + melanocytes, Merkel cells, and Langerhans cells dispersed throughout
What are the 3 major functions of the epidermis?
- Maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance
- Protection from UV light
- Sensory and immune function
What are the 5 layers of the epidermis, from superfical to deep?
- Stratum corneum
- Stratum lucidum
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum basale
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Compare the appearance of the stratum corneum in thin vs. thick skin.
Thin - basket-weave
Thick - compact, thicker
Which layer of the epidermis does squamous cell carcinoma typically arise from?
Stratum spinosum
What is the most common cutaneous skin cancer in humans and which layer of the epidermis does it arise from?
Basal cell carcinoma; stratum basale
What is a Rete ridge?
Finger-like projection of the epidermis down into the dermis (adhesion)
Compare the locations of thin and thick skin?
Thin: entire body except thick skin areas
Thick: palmas of hands and soles of feet
What is acral skin?
The palms of the hands and soles of the feet, which are covered by thick skin
Which layer of the epidermis is not found in thin skin?
Stratum lucidum
Compare the presence of hair follicles and other structures in thin and thick skin.
Thin skin: hair follicles except lips, labia minora, and glans penis
Thick skin: no hair follicles, more sensory receptors, increased eccrine glands, fewer sebaceous glands
Discuss the process of desquamatization.
The layers of the epidermis represent vertical maturation from undifferentiated basal cells to fully differentiated cornified cells. This process takes about 25 days.
Shorter epidermal maturation periods are seen in what types of conditions?
Inflammatory, such as psoriasis
How do cells adhere to one another in the epidermis?
Desmosomes connect keratinocytes at the macula adherens; hemidesmosomes connect keratinocytes to the basement membrane.
What process is prevented by cell-cell adherence in the epidermis?
Acantholysis
What are melanocytes and where are they found?
Clearish cells in the basal layer with dark nuclei (1:10 ratio - melanocyte: keratinocyte) that produce melanin (which is distributed to nearby keratinocytes)
Where are Langerhans cells found in the epidermis and what do they do?
Mid-spinous layer; dendritic cells
Where are Merkel cells found in the epidermis and what do they do?
Stratum basale; receptor cells that establish synaptic contacts with sensory nerves
Benign proliferations of melanocytes are called ___ and ___; malignant transformation results in ___.
Lentigos; nevi; melanoma
Keratinocytes wear melanin pigment like a ___.
Cap on top of their nuclei
What connects the epidermis and dermis?
Dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ)
What are the components of the DEJ?
- Hemidesmosome (connects basal keratinocytes to the BM)
- BM
- Anchoring fibrils attach the BM to the dermis (hooks onto 7 and 1)
What are the two components of the basement membrane and what types of collagen are contained in each?
- Lamina lucida (17, 13, laminin 5 and 6)
2. Lamina densa (7)
What is the the dermis?
Everything below the DEJ/basement membrane - connective tissue layer containing blood vessels, nerves, sensory receptors, adnexal structures
The dermis is composed mostly of type ___ collagen.
1
What are the two layers of the dermis?
- Papillary dermis - includes the dermal papilla which project into the epidermis, as well as capillaries, free nerve endings, and Meissner’s corpuscles
- Reticular dermis - between papillary dermis and subcutis
What is the function of dermal papilla?
Increased contact area, prevents epidermal detachment; leads to fingerprints
What are the two major types of fibers composing the dermis?
- Type I collagen
2. Elastic fibers
What are the adnexal structures of the reticular dermis?
- Sebaceous glands
- Hair follicles
- Eccrine glands
- Apocrine glands
- Erector pili (smooth muscle)
How do the sebaceous glands appear on H&E stain?
Clear, bubbly cells
Sebaceous glands utilize holocrine secretion - what is this?
The entire cell disintegrates and collapses to form the secretion
Sebaceous glands are usually associated with ___.
Hair follicles
What are the layers of the hair follicle, from superficial to deep?
- Infundibulum
- Isthmus
- Stem
- Bulb (contains papilla)