LAYERS OF THE

EPIDERMIS

The Epidermis
There

are four cell types found in the epidermis

Keratinocytes
Produces

a tough protein called keratin

Melanocytes
Pigment

cells located deep in the epidermis

Produce

melanin (skin color)

Merkel

cells

Sensory

cells

Langerhans
Fixed

cells

macrophages

The Epidermis
Thick

and thin skin

Thick

skin

Found
Made
Has
Thin

on palms and soles

of five layers of cells

stratum lucidum

skin

Found
Made

on the rest of the body

of four layers of cells

LAYERS OF THE EPIDERMIS

In

order, from the basal lamina

toward the free surface, are the

stratum
stratum
stratum
stratum
stratum

germinativum(basale),
spinosum,
granulosum,
lucidum,
corneum.

Stratum
granulosu
m
Stratum
spinosum

stratum germinativum/basale
Dermal

projections called dermal papillae extend between

adjacent epidermal ridges
The contours of the skin surface follow the ridge patterns Fingerprints
Large basal cells, or germinative stem cells, dominate the
stratum germinativum.
Skin surfaces that lack hair also contain Merkel cells that
are sensitive to touch; when compressed, they release
chemicals that stimulate sensory nerve endings.
The brown tones of skin result from the pigment cells
called melanacytes, with cell processes extending into
more superficial layers.

Stratum
granulosu
m
Stratum
spinosum

Stratum Spinosum
Each

time a stem cell divides, one of the daughter cells is

pushed from the stratum germinativum into the stratum
spinosum,

The

stratum spinosum consists of 8 to 10 layers of cells

Langerhans

cells (fixed macrophages) present, stimulate

a defense against (1) microorganisms that manage to
penetrate the superficial layers of the epidermis and (2)
superficial skin cancers.

Stratum
granulosu
m
Stratum
spinosum

Stratum Granulosum

consists of three to five layers of keratinocytes displaced from the

stratum spinosum.

By the time cells reach this layer, most have stopped dividing &
they begin making large amounts of keratin and keratohyalin

Keratin is a tough fibrous protein component of hair and nails.

Keratohyalin forms dense granules that dehydrate the cell and

aggregate cross-linking of the keratin fibers.

The nuclei and other organelles disintegrate, and the cells die.

dehydration creates a tightly interlocked layer of cells of keratin

fibers surrounded by keratohyalin.

Stratum
granulosu
m
Stratum
spinosum

Stratum Lucidum
In

the thick skin of the palms and soles, a glassy stratum

lucidum covers the stratum granulosum

The

cells in the stratum lucidum are flattened, densely

packed, and filled with keratin.

thick

skin, on the palms and soles have five layers

lucidum is the 5th layer

Stratum
granulosu
m
Stratum
spinosum

Stratum Corneum
At

the exposed surface of both thick skin and thin skin

contains 15 to 30 layers of keratinized cells.
remain tightly interconnected by desmosomes. shed in
large groups or sheets rather than individually.
15 to 30 days for a cell to move from the stratum
germinativum to the stratum corneum.
The dead cells remain in the exposed stratum corneum
layer for an additional two weeks before they are shed
insensible perspiration Water from interstitial fluids
slowly evaporates into the surrounding air. You lose
roughly 500 ml (about 1 pt) of water in this way each day.