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Skin, Genetic Defects, and Aging

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Bionanomaterials for Skin Regeneration

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Bioengineering ((BRIEFSBIOENG))

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Abstract

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and comprises a total surface area of approximately 2 m2. The skin has multiple functions such as protection against external environmental factors, sensation, heat regulation, control of water evaporation, synthesis of vitamin D, and many more. At the cellular level, it comprises three layers, from top to bottom: epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis [1]. The epidermis is mainly composed of three kinds of cells: keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Langerhans cells [2]. The epidermis is the uppermost layer of skin and further contains several sublayers (Fig. 2.1) [3]. The epidermis functions as a barrier of the skin, which protects humans from invasion of pathogenic potentially infectious foreign particles into the body. It can have different degrees of thickness at various sites of the body. The epidermis is connected to the dermis via a basal membrane. The kerotinocytes residing on the basal layer undergo cell division. As it progresses, the keratinocytes move upward through different layers named spinous, granular, and cornified layer (stratum corneum, SC), and eventually are lost from the skin surface by desquamation [4]. The epidermis does not have any primary blood supply, hence it receives all nutrients from the dermis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ, USA

    Mihaela D. Leonida & Ish Kumar

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  1. Mihaela D. Leonida
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  2. Ish Kumar
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Leonida, M.D., Kumar, I. (2016). Skin, Genetic Defects, and Aging. In: Bionanomaterials for Skin Regeneration. SpringerBriefs in Bioengineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39168-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39168-7_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-39166-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-39168-7

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