The Integumentary System-Epidermis
The three main layers of skin are the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. Accordingly, the outermost layer of the skin is the epidermis which also comprises several layers. According to McLafferty, Hendry & Farley (2012), these layers, starting with the outermost one down to the innermost one, include the stratum corneum, stratum basale, stratum lucidum, stratum spinosum, and the stratum granulosum. To begin with, the stratum corneum comprises about 20 to 30 cell layers comprising anucleate squamous cells. These cells have dead keratinocytes, which serve as the first immune defense by secreting defensins. Stratum lucidum comprises two to three cell layers and is mostly found in the epidermis of thicker skin areas like soles (Yousef, Alhajj & Sharma, 2017). Stratum granulosum has three to five diamond-shaped cell layers. These cells contain lamellar granules, which produce glycolipids that function as a sticky substance that keeps cells stuck together, and keratohyalin granules that form bundles.
Further, the stratum spinosum is characterized by eight to ten layers that are irregular and polyhedral and carry out cytoplasmic processes. Further, this layer also contains dendritic cells. Stratum basale contains columnar or cuboidal cells, mitotically active stems, and secrete keratinocytes (McLafferty, Hendry & Farley, 2012). The basal lamina separates this layer from the dermis, the skin’s second layer. Blood supply to the epidermis is done by the superficial arteriovenous plexus, which is also responsible for the regulation of temperature. Lastly, the epidermis, specifically in the stratum granulosum, has free nerve endings used to sense pain, cold, and heat.
To completely understand the assignment and master the material, I studied published articles on skin anatomy in addition to the resources given in class.
References
McLafferty, E., Hendry, C., & Farley, A. (2012). The integumentary system: anatomy, physiology and function of the skin. Nursing Standard (through 2013), 27(3), 35.
Yousef, H., Alhajj, M., & Sharma, S. (2017). Anatomy, skin (integument), epidermis.
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