Glossary
- Corpuscles
- an encapsulated end of a sensory neuron acting as a receptor for touch or pressure
- Exocrine Gland
- glands that produce and secrete substances onto an epithelial surface by way of a duct
- Keratinocytes
- an epidermal cell that produces the protein keratin; epidermis consists of 95% of these cells
- Melanocytes
- epidermal skin cells that produce melanin, a skin pigment
- Papillary Layer
- superficial layer of the dermis, made of loose, areolar connective tissue
- Reticular Layer
- deeper layer of the dermis; it has a reticulated appearance due to the presence of abundant collagen and elastin fibers
- Stratum Basale
- (pronounced BAY-zal-ee) The most deep layer, next to the basement membrane; Stem cells here divide by mitosis, work their way up, to replace more superficial cells being lost at surface
- Stratum Corneum
- about 20 layers of squamous-shaped dead cells (dead due to all the keratin) providing a layer of water resistance
- Stratum Granulosum
- cells here (three to five layers deep) become flatter, their cell membranes thicken, and they generate large amounts of the protein keratin, which is fibrous
- Stratum Lucidum
- this layer is more translucent or clear (due to special proteins that are clear) and are dead cells providing an extra water barrier. It is only seen in thick skin of the fingertips, palms and soles of the feet, though
- Stratum Spinosum
- these cells have bundles of protein filaments (beginning to make keratin) and they look prickly/spiny under the microscope
Grant and Other Information
Except where otherwise noted, this work by The Community College Consortium for Bioscience Credentials is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Text from BioBook licensed under CC BY NC SA and Boundless Biology Open Textbook licensed under CC BY SA.
Other text from OpenStaxCollege licensed under CC BY 3.0. Modified by Alice Rudolph, M.A. for c3bc.
Instructional Design by Courtney A. Harrington, Ph.D., Helen Dollyhite, M.A. and Caroline Smith, M.A. for c3bc.
Media by Brittany Clark, Lucious Oliver, II, John Reece and Antonio Davis for c3bc.
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