Skin Development & Microanatomy Flashcards
what germ layers is skin derived from
ectoderm
mesoderm
what structures are derived from ectoderm
epidermis
hair follicles
sweat glands
sebaceous glands
modified glands
what structures are derived from mesoderm
dermis + subcutis
- dermal matrix (collagen, elastin, proteoglycans)
- vessels/lymphatics
- nerves
- arrector pili muscle
- subcutaneous fat
what does skin thickness depend on
thickness of the DERMIS
what are 3 general causes of increased skin thickness
- increased cellularity from inflammation
- neoplastic infiltrate
- matrix deposition/fluid in the dermis
what cell types are present in the epidermis
- keratinocytes
- melanocytes
- langerhans cells
- merkel cells
function of keratinocytes
create a barrier to the outside
structure of keratinocytes
stratified (4-5 cell layers)
- stratum basale
- stratum spinosum
- stratum granulosum
- stratum corneum
basal layers (stratum basale)
innermost layer
contains germinal cells that undergo mitosis to form undifferentiated keratinocytes
spinous layer (stratum spinosum)
middle 1-2 layers of cells that differentiate into keratinocytes
begin to flatten
granular layer (stratum granulosum)
cells that begin producing components of the lipid envelope for the cornified layer
cornified layer (stratum corneum)
outermost layer of dead keratinocytes
acts as a barrier to and communicates with the environment
types of cornified layers
compact
basket weave
compact cornified layer
seen in glabrous (hairless) skin and regions under constant pressure/friction
basket-weave cornified layer
seen in normal haired skin
high lipid content causes loose arrangement of keratin lamellae
lipid envelope
connects dead keratinocytes together in the cornified layer
what connective structures are used to connect keratinocytes
desmosomes
tight junctions
E-cadherins
desmosomes
connect keratinocytes to each other
- should NOT be visible in health
spongiosis
intercellular edema causing keratinocytes to separate
desmosomes become visible
tight junctions
prevent passage of molecules through intercellular spaces to require them to pass within the cells via diffusion/active transport
- maintains health of keratinocytes without needing blood supply
E-cadherins
connects keratinocytes to each other, to melanocytes, and to langerhans cells
what determines the thickness of the epidermis
the thickness of the SPINOUS layer
epidermal thickness vs hair coat
glabrous (hairless) = thick epidermis
haired = thin epidermis
is epidermal atrophy common
no, rare
caused by hyperadrenocorticism
what is epidermal turnover
the time it takes for basal cells to reach the cornified layer
takes 3 weeks
immunologic properties of keratinocytes
- normal flora/microbiome
- antimicrobial peptides
- lipids
- cytokines/chemokines
- express MHC II to act as APCs to T cells in the epidermis
epidermal hyperplasia
acanthosis
increased thickness of the epidermis caused by chronic irritation (to the cells or the envelope)
steps of acanthosis
- injury/irritation causes rapid basal cell division
- spinous layer thickens
- increased turnover rate
- decreased transit time between layers
- decreased differentiation
- changes in granular and keratin layer
subacute acanthosis lesions
- hypogranulosis: lack of granular layer (dec. differentiation)
- parakeratosis: retention of nuclei in keratin layer
chronic acanthosis lesions
- hypergranulosis: adaptation to high turnover
- compact hyperkeratosis: compaction of the cornified layer despite haired skin
melanocytes
provide pigmentation to the skin and hair coat
location of melanocytes
between basal keratinocytes
extend dendritic processes that carry melanosomes to surrounding keratinocytes
melanosomes
synthesize and store melanin pigments
hyperpigmentation
excess melanin stimulating hormone (MSH) caused by chronic irritation or solar exposure
depigmentation
loss of skin or hair pigment caused by injury to the dermis-epidermis junction and basal cells OR matricidal cells of the hair bulbs leading to melanocyte damage