Microanatomy

Skin & Mucous Membrane

 SKIN
Largest organ of the body.

About 15% of total body Weight

Covers an area approximately 2 m2

 SKIN
Function:

Covers the underlying soft tissue

Protection against physical &

microbial injuries
Acts as largest sensory organ
Participate in thermoregulation
Metabolism
 SKIN
Skin:
2 types: Thick & Thin

Skin consists of 2 layers:

1. Epidermis
Outer epithelial layer
-Keratinized stratified squamous
Derived from ectoderm

2. Dermis
Deeper connective tissue layer
Derived from mesoderm
 Epidermis

- prevents mechanical damage

- block micro organism invasion
- capacity to regenerate after damage
- forms appendages
- avascular
- has nerve supply
 Dermis

- Gives mechanical strength

- Reservoir of defense
- Has the property to regenerate
- Vascular structure
- Has nerve supply
- Has adipose tissue
- SHOCK ABSORBER
- Energy storage
- Thermal insulation
 Dermo-Epidermal Junction

Junction between dermis and epidermis

is linked and cannot be stripped off.

Dermal papillae- finger like upward

projection of dermis into epidermis

Epidermal papillae- finger like downward

projection of epidermis into dermis
EPIDERMIS

DERMIS
 Epidermis
Epidrmis consists of 5 layers; from
dermis to upwards:

1. Stratum Basale
2. Stratum Spinosum
3. Stratum Granulosum
4. Stratum Lucidum
5. Stratum Corneum
 Stratum corneum

Stratum Lucidum
Stratum Granulosum
Stratum Spinosum

Stratum Basale
 EPIDERMIS

Stratum corneum + Stratum Lucidum

+ Stratum granulosum:
- Zone of Keratinization or Cornified Zone

Stratum Lucidum + Stratum

granulosum:
- absent in hairy areas
- seen in thick non-hairy regions
 Stratum Basale
- Deepest Layer: Single layer of columnar cells
- Intense mitotic activity: Constant Renewal
- Gives rise to all other layers

Stratum Spinosum
- Thickest Layer: Multiple layer of Polyhedral cells
- Resist friction

Stratum Granulosum
- 3-5 layers of flattened polygonal cells
- Cytoplasm filled with granules
- Nucleus; Disappear
- Provides; Water proof barrier
 Stratum Lucidum
- Present in thick skin
- Thin transparent layer

Stratum Corneum
- Most superficial layer
- 15-20 layers of non nucleated keratinized cells

Non Keratinocytes in Epidermis

- Melanocytes
- Langerhans Cells
- Merkel Cells
 S.Corneum

S.Lucidum
S. Granulosum

S.Spinosum

Melanocyte Langerhans Cell Merkel Cell

Cellular transformation in
Epidermis
 Dermis
- Dense irregular connective
tissue
- Has two layers:
Papillary
Reticular

Papillary

Reticular
Papillary Layer

- Superficial thin layer

- Forms dermal papilla where
Meissner corpuscle & capillary
loops may be found
- Contains collagen & elastic
fibres
Reticular Layer
- Extensive part; lying deep
- Contains thick bundle of
collagen & elastic fibres
- Arteries, veins, lymphatics are
present
- Location of sweat gland,
pacinian corpuscle & nerves
- Contains hair follicles,
sebaceous glands & errector pili
muscle
Hypodermis/ Subcutaneous Layer
- Consist of loose connective tissue
- Often constitutes fat cells that vary
in number in different regions of
body
- Arteries, veins, lymphatics are
present
 Appendages of the skin

Hair

Nail

Sebaceous gland

Sweat gland

Mammary gland
 Thick skin
Present in palm and sole
Epidermis is thick and all the Epidermis is thin and
5 layers are seen clearly.
Dermis shows only sweat
glands
Thin skin
Present in other parts of
body except palm and sole
granulosum,lucidum is not
seen clearly
Dermis contains sweat
glands,hair follicles,
sebaceous glands and
arector pili muscle (smooth
muscle)
 Mucosa
Layer borders the lumen
Has three parts
Epithelium
Lamina propria
Muscularis mucosae
Epithelium:
Stratified squamous in the oral
cavity,oropharynx, oesophagus &
anal canal.
Simple columnar in the stomach,
intestines & rectum.
Lamina propria:
Formed by a cell-rich loose
connective tissue (fibroblasts,
lymphocytes, plasma cells,
macrophages, eosinophilic
leukocytes and mast cells).
Muscularis mucosae:
A thin layer of smooth muscle cells.
Its organization is somewhat variable
depending on the location.
Mucosa
Linings of mostly endodermal origin.
Involved in absorption and secretion.
Lines various body cavities that are exposed
to the external environment and internal
organs.
At several places continuous with skin
: at the nostrils, the lips, the ears, the genital
area, and the anus.
Secretes sticky, thick fluid secreted by the
mucous membranes and gland is MUCUS
The term mucous membrane refers to where
they are found in the body and not every
mucous membrane secretes mucus.
Body cavities featuring mucous membrane
include most of the respiratory system. The
glans penis (head of the penis) and glans
clitoridis and the inside of the prepuce
(foreskin) and clitoral hood are mucous
membranes, not skin.
Types of mucosa

Buccal mucosa
Gastric mucosa
Intestinal mucosa
Olfactory mucosa
Oral mucosa
Bronchial mucosa
Endometrium
 Types of mucosa

Buccal mucosa:
Mucus membrane lining the inside of
cheek
It is non-keratinised stratified epithelium
and continuous with the mucosa of the soft
palate, under surface of tongue and the
floor of the mouth.
 Types of mucosa

Gastric mucosa:
Mucous membrane layer of the stomach
Has gastric glands and gastric pits.
It is thick and its surface is smooth, soft, and velvety.
Mucous membrane is covered by a single layer of
columnar epithelium with occasional goblet cells.
This epithelium commences very abruptly at the cardiac
orifice, where there is a sudden transition from the
stratified epithelium of the esophagus.
The epithelial lining of the gland ducts is of the same
character and is continuous with the general epithelial
lining of the stomach.
 Types of mucosa

Olfactory mucosa:
Is an organ made up of the olfactory epithelium,
mucus secreting glands, behind the epithelium.
The mucus protects the olfactory epithelium and
allows odors to dissolve so that they can be
detected by olfactory receptor neurons.
Located on the roof of the nasal cavity above
and behind the nostrils.
 Types of mucosa

Oral mucosa:
Is the mucous membrane epithelium of the
mouth. It can be divided into three categories.
Masticatory mucosa - keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium, found on the dorsum of
the tongue, hard palate and attached gingiva.
Lining mucosa - non-keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium, found most everywhere
else in the oral cavity.
Specialized mucosa - specifically in the regions
of the taste buds on the dorsum of the tongue.
 Endometrium is the inner membrane of
the mammalian uterus