Histology of Integumentary System

By Dr. Mudassar Ali Roomi (MBBS, M.Phil.)

Sebaceous glands
Sebaceous glands are spherical or ovoid structures enclosed in thin C.T. capsule and embedded in the dermis Location: These are present over most of the body surface, except the thick, hairless (glabrous) skin of the palms and soles. There is an average of about 100 such glands per square centimeter of skin, but the frequency increases to 400 900/cm2 in the face, forehead and scalp.

Sebaceous glands
Sebaceous glands are simple branched acinar glands having a lobular appearance. The clustered acini of one sebaceous gland empty into a single short duct. The duct empties into the neck of a hair follicle. Numerous sebaceous glands associated are with each hair follicle . 3. These holocrine glands release sebum (composed of an oily secretion and degenerating epithelial cells).

 The alveoli of seb. Glands are filled with stratified squamous cells The most peripheral (basal) cells have mitotic activity. Central cells are polyhedral cells laden with lipid droplets.

Sebum
COMPOSITION: Sebum is a complex mixture of lipids that includes wax esters, squalene, cholesterol and triglycerides which are hydrolyzed by bacterial enzymes after secretion. Stimulus for secretion: Secretion from sebaceous glands greatly increases at puberty, stimulated primarily by testosterone in men and by ovarian and adrenal androgens in women. Specific functions of sebum appear to include:
1.

2.

helping maintain the stratum corneum and hair, as well as exerting weak antibacterial and antifungal properties on the skin surface.

ACNE
The flow of sebum is continuous, and a disturbance in the normal secretion and flow of sebum is one of the reasons for the development of acne, a chronic inflammation of obstructed sebaceous glands common during and after puberty.

SEBACEOUS CYST
Definition: Sebaceous cysts are pasty-filled bumps and lumps below the skin Cause: Blocked sebaceous glands Common sites: The scalp, ears, back, face, and upper arm.

Nails
Nails are located on the distal phalanx of each finger and toe. Nails are hard keratinized plates that rest on a bed of epidermis. At the proximal end, each is covered by a fold of epidermis, called the cuticle or eponychium, which corresponds to the stratum corneum. The cuticle overlies the crescentshaped, whitish lunula. At the distal (free) edge, each is underlain by the hyponychium, which also is composed of stratum corneum.

Nails
The proximal part of the nail is the nail root Nails grow as the result of mitoses of cells in the matrix of the nail root. The keratinized nail plate is bound to a bed of epidermis called the nail bed, which contains only the basal and spinous layers Growth rate: 3 mm/month for fingernails and 1 mm/month for toenails.

Clinical application
Onychia is an inflammation of the nail folds (surrounding tissue of the nail plate) of the nail with formation of pus and shedding of the nail. Anemia can be seen here. The nearly transparent nail plate and the thin epithelium of the nail bed provide a useful window on the amount of oxygen in the blood by showing the color of blood in the dermal vessels. Koilonychia is when the nail curves upwards (becomes spoonshaped) due to an iron deficiency. Pitting of the nails is associated with Psoriasis.