As an organ, the skin or integumentary system is very important.
It has many structural and functional properties. Let’s start with going through some skin microanatomy:
The skin is made up of many layers of cells and tissues. The three main layers that you should know are the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis.
The epidermis is the most superficial layer and it is made up of keratinised, stratified, squamous epithelium. This layer is self renewing. It doesn’t have any blood vessels, but contains other cells for pigmentation, sensory nerves, in addition to protection from trauma, fluid loss, bacteria, toxins, ultraviolet radiation and temperature extremes.
The dermis is known and the core of the integumentary system. It contains blood vessels, nerves and sensory structures, lymph, hair follicles and sweat glands. The papillary layer of the dermis contains loose, areolar connective tissue, while the reticular layer is made up of a dense meshwork of fibres. Elastin fibres- give the skin elasticity for movement, and collagen fibres for structure and tensile strength.
The hypodermis is the deepest layer, and it lies below the dermis. It contains structures such as nerves, blood vessels, and adipose tissue, which are essential for the survival of the epidermis. It also serves as a border between the skin and underlying fascia which is connected to bones and muscles.
Dive deeper into the microanatomy of the skin today with Complete Anatomy!
