Lecture 11: Integument Flashcards
Integument layers
-Epidermis (epithelium)
-Dermis; papillary + reticular (connective tissue)
-Hypodermis
Periderm
Unilaminar embryonic integument. Specialized to interact with amniotic fluid and protect the epidermis developing basal to it.
Papillary dermis
More cellular, loose CT. Smaller dermis layer closer to the epidermis
Reticular dermis
More fibrous, dense irregular CT. Significantly larger than papillary dermis.
Dermal papillae
Small bumps that extend from the dermis and invaginate the epidermis. Interrupted by interpapillary pegs (rete). Increases mechanical strength of layers.
Capillary plexus
Comprised of deep (lower) and shallow (upper) sections within the dermis. Blood supply for epidermis. Shunting blood to/from the shallow plexus helps in temperature regulation.
Functions of the integument
-Structure
-Immune barrier/surveillance
-Fluid retention
-Vitamin D production
Keratinocytes
Primary epidermis cell. Produces keratins. SCs located in stratum basale. Connected by desmosomes.
Epidermis layers
Basal to apical:
-Stratum basale
-Stratum spinosum
-Stratum granulosum (LM visible in thick skin only)
-Stratum lucidum (LM visible in thick skin only)
-Stratum corneum
Stratum basale
Basal layer of epidermis. Contains keratinocyte stem cells and melanocytes.
Stratum spinosum
Contains daughter cells from basal stem cells through asymmetric vertical division.
Stratum granulosum
Contains cells with visible keratohyalin granules
Stratum lucidum
0-2 cells thick, contains dying cells that still retain their cytoplasm.
Stratum corneum
Composed of keratin sheets bound by lipids and keratohyalin; originally contained in lamellar bodies of cells. Fillagrin precursor becomes a glue for keratin sheets that cells release as they die. Forms an H2O barrier.
Minor epidermis cell types
- Melanocytes
- Langerhans cells
- Merkel cells
Melanocytes
Produce melanin and export to surrounding keratinocytes via cytocrine secretion of melanosomes. Primarily responsible for skin color and respond to UV radiation.
Langerhans cells
Resident dendritic APCs of the integument.
Merkel cells
Serve some role in interfacing with the nervous system and in mechanosensation.
Nervous elements of the dermis
-Meissner’s corpuscles
-Pacinian corpuscles
-Free nerve endings
-Ruffini endings
-Krause corpuscles
Meissner’s corpuscles
Located in papillary dermis. Sense touch.