Cutaneous histology and the Basement Membrane Zone Flashcards
What kind of tissue if the epidermis made of? How many layers are there? What kind of cells is it composed of?
- stratified squamous epithelium
- 4 layers of epidermis with and extra layer on acral skin
- main composed of keratinocytes
- .5-.1mm thick
Label these layers of skin please
What are the layers of the epidermis?
stratum corneum
stratum lucidum (acral skin only)
stratum granulosum
stratum spinosum
stratum basale
What are alternative names for stratum corneum? WHat kind of cells is it comprised of? What is its function? Where is it located?
- aka cornified layer or keratin layer
- comprised of anucleate corneocytes
- primary barrier of epidermis
- thicker at acral sites, no stratum corneum at mucosal site
What is another name for stratum lucidum? where is it seen? what cells are located there? how many layer is it? what is the function?
- aka clear layer
- only seen on scral skin
- thin eosinophilic (clear) band beneath stratum corneum
- may function to reduce friction
What kind of cells are in the stratum granulosum? what is its function?
- flat cells, filled with basophilic granules
- Keratohyaline granules:
- fillaggrin
- involucrin
- loricrin
- Odland bodies (laellar granules): discharge ceramied and other fats into the intercellular space
- Keratohyaline granules:
- Function: barrier, cell cohesion, hydrolytic enzymes
What is another name for the stratum spinosum? what kind of cells ar in it? How many layers is it?
- prickle or spinous layer
- polygonal cells
- abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm
- oval vesicular nuclei
- conspicuous nucleoli
- 5-10 cell layers thick
How does the appearance of the cells in the stratum spinosum change as you get closer to the surface? how are the cells connected?
progressively flatter towards surface
contains differntiating keratinocytes
connected by intercellular bridges (desmosomes, adherens junctions, tight junctions)
What kind of cells are in the stratum basale? How many layers? how are the cells connected?
- cuboidal or columnar cells
- single layer, perpendicular to dermis
- more basophilic cytoplasm, dark large nuclei
- periapical cap of melanin
- connected intercellularly by desmosomes, and to the basemen membrane by hemidesmosomes
- most mitotic activity
WHat is this layer? (with a star)
What cells are these?
- what layer?
- origin?
- characteristics
- function
Melanocytes!!!
- found in basal layer
- neural crest origin
- characteristics:
- no desmosomal attachments
- pale cytoplasm
- 1 melanocyte/10 keratinocytes (1/4 on cheek) **if you see melanocytes clustered you should be alarmed about cancer!
- function: transfer pigment to keratinocytes
What cells are these?
- where are they derived from?
- where are they found?
Langerhans cells
- bone marrow-derived, dendritic antigen presenting cells
- normally in epidermis in concentration similar to melanocytes
What cells are these?
Langerhans
What kind of cells are these?
- What layer of the epidermis are they found in?
- what are they closely associated with?
Merkel Cells!
- found in basal layer of epidermis
- bulge of hair follicles
- oral mucosa
- closely associated with sensory nerves: function as touch receptors
What is the dermis composed of? what are these separated by?
- composed of papillary dermis and reticular dermis
- separated by superficial vascular plexus
What layer is this? In what direction is the collagen oriented? Hw is ti connected to the epidermis
Papillary dermis
- lies directly beneath the epidermis
- connects to epidermis via dermal papillae
- papillae contain capillaries
- fine vertical oriented collagen
Where are Meissner’s corpuscles located and what is their function?
- At dermal papilla of palms, soles and lips
- thick lamellated capsule surrounding core of cells and nerve fibers
- sensory light touch receptors
What layer is this?
Reticular dermis
- coarse thicker collagen fibers parallel to surface epithelium
- also contains sweat glands, lymph vessels hair blood vessels
What are these cells? What is their function?
Fibroblasts!
- thin, spindle shaped cells with elongate ovoid nuclei interspersed bwtween collagen bundles
- synthesize collagen and elastin fibers and ground substance
WHat fibers are visible in the reticular dermis?
Elastic fibers!
- not easily visble without special stains
- horizontally oriented thickened fibers in reticular dermis
- vertically oriented and more fine fibrils in paipllary dermis
What is this image?
Pacinian corpuscle
Where are pacinian corpuscles found? how does thier structure relates to their funciton?
- at dermal-subcutaneous interface
- palms, soles, digits, genitalia, ligaments, joints
- ovid sahped, 1mm, lamellated in cross-section, encapsulated sensory receptors for deep pressure and vibration