Give the two major parts of the skin.

1. Epidermis
2. Dermis
Give the function of the two major layers and give its parts.
I.

Epidermis
The epidermis is composed of the outermost layers of cells in the
skin, "epi" in Greek meaning "over" or "upon", which together with
the dermis forms the cutis.The epidermis is a stratified squamous
epithelium, composed of proliferating basal and differentiated
suprabasal keratinocytes which acts as the body's major barrier
against an inhospitable environment, by preventing pathogens from
entering, making the skin a natural barrier to infection. It also
regulates the amount of water released from the body into the
atmosphere through transepidermal water loss.

Layers: The epidermis is composed of 4 or 5 layers depending on the region

of skin being considered. Those layers in descending order are:
cornified layer (stratum corneum) Composed of 10 to 30 layers of
polyhedral, anucleated corneocytes (final step of keratinocyte
differentiation), with the palms and soles having the most layers.
Corneocytes are surrounded by a protein envelope (cornified envelope
proteins), filled with water-retaining keratin proteins, attached together
through corneodesmosomes and surrounded in the extracellular space
by stacked layers of lipids. Most of the barrier functions of the
epidermis localize to this layer.
Clear/translucent layer (stratum lucidum, only in palms and
soles) The skin found in the palms and soles is known as "thick skin"
because it has 5 epidermal layers instead of
granular layer (stratum granulosum) Keratinocytes lose their
nuclei and their cytoplasm appears granular. Lipids, contained into
those keratinocytes within lamellar bodies, are released into the
extracellular space through exocytosis to form a lipid barrier. Those
polar lipids are then converted into non-polar lipids and arranged
parallel to the cell surface. For example glycosphingolipids become
ceramides and phospholipids become free fatty acids.

spinous layer (stratum spinosum) Keratinocytes become

connected through desmosomes and start produce lamellar bodies,
from within the Golgi, enriched in polar lipids, glycosphingolipids, free
sterols, phospholipids and catabolic enzymes. Langerhans cells,
immunologically active cells, are located in the middle of this layer.
basal/germinal layer (stratum basale/germinativum) Composed
mainly of proliferating and non-proliferating keratinocytes, attached to
the basement membrane by hemidesmosomes. Melanocytes are
present, connected to numerous keratinocytes in this and other strata
through dendrites. Merkel cells are also found in the stratum basale
with large numbers in touch-sensitive sites such as the fingertips and
lips. They are closely associated with cutaneous nerves and seem to be
involved in light touch sensation.

II.

Dermis
The dermis is a layer of skin between the epidermis (with which it
makes up the cutis) and subcutaneous tissues, that consists of
connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. It is
divided into two layers, the superficial area adjacent to the
epidermis called the papillary region and a deep thicker area known
as the reticular dermis. The dermis is tightly connected to the
epidermis through a basement membrane. Structural components
of the dermis are collagen, elastic fibers, and extrafibrillar matrix. It
also contains Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and
thermoreceptors that provide the sense of heat. In addition, hair
follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, apocrine glands,
lymphatic vessels and blood vessels are present in the dermis.
Those blood vessels provide nourishment and waste removal for
both dermal and epidermal cells.

Layers:
Stratum papillare. The papillary region is composed of loose areolar
connective tissue. This is named for its fingerlike projections called papillae,
that extend toward the epidermis and contain either terminal networks of
blood capillaries or tactile Meissner's corpuscles.[4]
Reticular Layer. A fluorescent section of blood vessels in the skin; the smooth
muscle walls of the blood vessels are brightly stained. The reticular region
lies under the papillary region and is usually much thicker. It is composed of
dense irregular connective tissue, and receives its name from the dense

concentration of collagenous, elastic, and reticular fibers that weave

throughout it. These protein fibers give the dermis its properties of strength,
extensibility, and elasticity. Within the reticular region are the roots of the
hair, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, receptors, nails, and blood vessels.