MHS 277-278 Thin Skin

Thin Skin
(H&E)

Section of thin skin stained with hematoxylin & eosin. Thin skin covers most of the body except for the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

• Epidermis - stratified squamous keratinized epithelium divided into four layers:
  • Stratum Basale
  • Stratum Spinosum
  • Stratum Granulosum
  • Stratum Corneum
• Dermis - dense irregular connective tissue that supports the epidermis
  • Papillary Layer - connective tissue firmly attached to the epidermis by the basement membrane
    • Elastic fibers (unstained) - helps keep the skin smooth with few wrinkles
  • Reticular Layer - less organized connective tissue that supports the papillary and the epidermis

Thin Skin
(Verhoeff stain)

Thin skin stained with Verhoeff stain to demonstrate the presence of elastic fibers.

• Epidermis (brown) - non-specific staining
• Dermis - dense irregular connective tissue that supports the epidermis
  • Papillary Layer - connective tissue firmly attached to the epidermis by the basement membrane
    • Elastic fibers (black) - vertical fibers that help keep the skin smooth with few wrinkles
  • Reticular Layer - less organized connective tissue that supports the papillary and the epidermis

Wrinkles are most noticeable on the hands, arms, and face. These are the parts of the body more likely to have not been covered with clothing over a lifetime. Exposure to UV rays slowly damages these elastic fibers allowing the formation of wrinkles.