Skin
Structure of skin
Skin is the protective covering.
It plays important in regulation of temperature.
Layers of skin
• Two types of layer
• 1)Epidermis
• 2)Dermis
1)Epidermis- most superficial layer.
Made up of stratified squqmous epithelium.
It is divided into 5 layers
*stratum corneum
* stratum lucidum
*stratum granulosum
*stratum spinosum
*stratum germinativum
Stratum cornesum
• Superficial layer.
• cell are keratinized.
• Nuclei are absent.
• It is thickest at sole and palm.
• It is thinnest at lip.
Stratum lucidum
• Thin layer
• Nuclei absent
• Cell contain droplet eleidin which is precursor of keratin.
-Stratum granulosum
Below the stratum lucidum.
Consists of 3 to 5 layers of flattened polyhedral cells.
Stratum spinosum
Variable thickness
Made up of polyhedral cell
Layer covered with minute spines called as prickle cell.
Scattered irregularly throughout this layer are branched star shaped cell called Langerhans cell.
Layers of skin
.
Stratum germinativum
• Made up of columnar epithelium
• Transverse ,thin,short cytoplasmic processes on its basal lamina
2.Dermis (true skin)
.It is made up of connective tissue.
• Below the epidermal layer
• Which support the underlying tissues.
• Dermis is divided into two main layer
• The papillary dermis
• The reticular dermis
• Cell of the Dermis -fibroblasts from which the fibrous tissue of the dermis
developed.
• These cell are belonging to reticuloendothelium system, which proctects the body
from invading bacteria.
• some cell are loaded with melanin pigments and are known as melanophores.
• This layers contains blood vessels ,sweat glands, nerves.hair follicles.
Glands of skin
Two types-
1) Sweat glands
2) Sebaceous glands
Sweat Glands-modified smooth muscle cells known as myoepithelial cell at
base of gland and wind around their duct.Their contraction to help in
elimination of sweat.
Two types of glands
1) Eccrine gland
2) Apocrine glands
Eccrine gland –it constitute majority and found throughout the surface.
-more numerous on palm and soles on the hand.
-these glands not respond to temperature but secrete at the time of
emotional stress.
Apocrine sweat gland
• These are larger sweat gland .
They are derived from hair follicle.
distribution of large glands are varies from individual to individual,
from race to race.
special regions such as axilla ,areola of nipples ,pubic, labia majora
.
They are inactive upto puberty ,their secretion is viscid, milky,and
odourless.
After puberty their secretion vary in composition and possess a
characteristic odour.
The sebaceous glands are specialized exocrine glands that secrete an oily substance called sebum.
These glands are found in the skin, usually in association with hair follicles, and are most abundant on the scalp, face,
and upper body.
1. Structure and Location
Sebaceous glands are small, sac-like glands that are typically connected to hair follicles. They are made up
of clusters of specialized cells called sebocytes, which produce sebum.
Location:
They are located in the dermis, just beneath the epidermis, and are most concentrated in areas of the skin
with a high density of hair follicles (such as the face, scalp, and chest). However, sebaceous glands can be found in
almost all areas of the skin, except for the palms and soles of the feet.
2. Function
Sebum production: Sebaceous glands secrete sebum, a complex mixture of triglycerides, free fatty acids, wax esters,
and cholesterol. Sebum acts as a natural skin moisturizer by coating the surface of the skin and hair.
Lubrication: Sebum provides lubrication to the skin and hair, reducing water loss and preventing the skin from
becoming dry and brittle.
Function of skin
1. Protection
Physical Barrier: The skin serves as a physical barrier, protecting the internal organs and
tissues from physical damage. The outermost layer, the stratum corneum, is composed of
dead, keratinized cells that prevent mechanical injury.
Chemical Barrier: The skin provides a chemical defense through the secretion of
antimicrobial peptides and the acidic pH of sweat and sebum, which help to prevent
infections by inhibiting the growth of pathogens.
UV Radiation Protection: Melanin, produced by melanocytes in the epidermis, absorbs
ultraviolet (UV) radiation, protecting deeper tissues from DNA damage and sunburn.
2. Sensation
The skin is rich in sensory receptors that detect a variety of stimuli, including:
Touch: Mechanoreceptors, allow us to sense light touch and pressure.
Temperature: Thermoreceptors in the skin help detect changes in temperature.
Pain: Nociceptors are involved in detecting noxious stimuli, signaling pain to the brain.
3. Thermoregulation
Sweating: The skin regulates body temperature by producing sweat through eccrine glands. As sweat
evaporates from the surface, it cools the body.
Vasodilation and Vasoconstriction: Blood vessels in the dermis can dilate (vasodilation) to release heat or
constrict (vasoconstriction) to conserve heat, thus maintaining core body temperature.
Subcutaneous Fat: The adipose tissue layer beneath the dermis provides insulation, helping to conserve
body heat.
4. Excretion
The skin excretes waste products through sweat. This includes:
Urea ,Ammonia,Excess salts and other metabolic waste products.
While the kidneys play a major role in excretion, the skin contributes a secondary route, especially when the
body is under heat stress.
5. Vitamin D Synthesis
The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D upon exposure to ultraviolet B
(UVB) radiation. The ultraviolet light converts 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin into vitamin
D3.
6. Immune Function
The skin is an integral part of the immune system:
Physical Barrier: As the skin acts as the first line of defense against pathogens.
7. Absorption
The skin is capable of absorbing certain substances, although it is selective in what it allows in:
Medications: Certain topical medications, such as transdermal patches, deliver drugs directly
into the bloodstream.
8. Storage
The skin serves as a storage site for several substances:
Lipids: Stored in the subcutaneous fat layer and sebaceous glands, these provide insulation,
energy, and a reservoir for essential fats.
Water: The skin retains water to maintain hydration and homeostasis.
Minerals and Electrolytes: The dermis and epidermis can store and release certain minerals as
needed for physiological functions.
10. Wound Healing
The skin is capable of repairing itself after injury, a process that involves:
Inflammation: Immediately after injury, blood vessels constrict to minimize blood loss, and inflammatory cells
(neutrophils and macrophages) migrate to the site to prevent infection.
Proliferation: New cells (keratinocytes) migrate to close the wound, and collagen is laid down to form a
scaffold for tissue regeneration.
