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Embryology and Anatomy of the Skin

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Skin Cancer

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Pathology ((CCPATH))

Abstract

The human skin is formed by two distinct layers: the upper superficial epidermis, composed by a pluristratified epithelium, covering a layer below, the dermis. This chapter describes the embryonic development of the human skin with a particular attention to the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of epidermal development and differentiation. Moreover, structure of the adult skin is also described.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Section of Evolutionary and Comparative Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy

    Maria De Falco

  2. Department of Molecular, Cellular and Craniofacial Biology, University of Louisville Birth Defects Center, Louisville, KY, USA

    Michele M. Pisano

  3. Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, Second University of Naples, Via L. Armanni 5, Naples, 80138, Italy

    Antonio De Luca PhD

Authors
  1. Maria De Falco
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  2. Michele M. Pisano
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  3. Antonio De Luca PhD
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Correspondence to Antonio De Luca PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples Department of Environmental, Biological, Naples, Italy

    Alfonso Baldi

  2. Department of Dermatology, Pius Hospital de Valls, Valls, Tarragona, Spain

    Paola Pasquali

  3. S.A.F.U. Department, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy

    Enrico P Spugnini

Glossary

Dermis

is the skin layer under the epidermis. It is a dense connective tissue which functions as a mechanical device for the attachment of the epidermis and for its nourishing. It contains collagen and elastic fibers, glands, hair follicles and blood vessels. The mature dermis can be divided in two distinct layers: a superficial thin papillary layer and a deeper reticular layer.

Epidermis

a stratified pavement epithelium that forms the outermost layer of the skin. It is interconnected with the dermis, the below connective tissue and functions as the first barrier between the organism and the environment. The epidermis can be divided into four distinct layers: stratum basale or stratum germinativum, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, and stratum corneum.

Keratinocytes

the cells that form all the epidermis layers at various stages of differentiation and proliferative potential. They contain several types of keratins. The basal keratinocytes specifically express K5 and K14.

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De Falco, M., Pisano, M.M., De Luca, A. (2014). Embryology and Anatomy of the Skin. In: Baldi, A., Pasquali, P., Spugnini, E. (eds) Skin Cancer. Current Clinical Pathology. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7357-2_1

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