Epidermis (skin)
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin. It forms the waterproof, protective wrap over the body's surface and is made up of stratified squamous epithelium with an underlying basal lamina.
Components
The epidermis contains no blood vessels, and is nourished by diffusion from the dermis. The main type of cells which make up the epidermis are keratinocytes, melanocytes, Langerhans cells and Merkels cells.
Layers
The epidermis is divided into several layers where cells are formed through mitosis at the innermost layers. They move up the strata changing shape and composition as they differentiate and become filled with keratin. They eventually reach the top layer called stratum corneum and become sloughed off, or desquamated. This process is called keratinization and takes place within weeks. The outermost layer of epidermis consists of 25 to 30 layers of dead cells.
Sublayers
Epidermis is divided into the following 5 sublayers or strata, listed from the superficial to deep:
- Stratum corneum
- Stratum lucidum
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum germinativum (also called "stratum basale")
Mnemonics used for remembering the layers of the skin (using "stratum basale" instead of "stratum germinativum"):
- "Corn Lovers Grow Several Bales" (from superficial to deep)
- "Before Signing, Get Legal Counsel" (from deep to superficial)
Additional images
 Section of epidermis. |
 Skin layers. |
 Histopathological image of dyshidrotic dermatitis, showing focal spngiotic change in the epidermis. |
 Schematics of external human skin depicting its inner structure. |
 The distribution of the bloodvessels in the skin of the sole of the foot. |
 Cross section showing layers of epidermis. |
External links
- Histology at BU 08422loa - "Integument: thick skin"
bg:Епидермис
de:Epidermis (Säugetiere)
eo:Epidermo
fr:Épiderme (anatomie)
he:אפידרמיס
hr:Epiderma
lt:Epidermis
nl:Epidermissr:Покожица
fi:Orvaskesi
sv:Överhuden
th:หนังกำพร้า
uk:Епідерма
| ||||
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
