File:Epidermis cartoon 01.jpg

General structure of the Adult Epidermis

This cartoon shows keratinocyte differentiation (cornification) within overall structure of the skin epithelium. In addition, the cellular junctions are also indicated.

1. stratum basale - (basal layer) keratinocytes proliferate by mitosis. This layer also contains the stem cell population.
2. stratum spinosum - keratinocytes reinforce their cytoskeletal keratin filament network and adjacent cells interact through desmosomes.
3. stratum granulosum - keratinocytes become more flattened and express proteins that aggregate to form keratohyalin granules. Lipids are also produced and stored in lamellar bodies.
4. stratum corneum - keratinocytes lose their organelles, including the nucleus, and become the dead, flattened corneocytes.

Links: Integumentary System Development

Reference

<pubmed>18250198</pubmed>

J Cell Biol. 2008 February 11; 180(3): 451–458. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200709098.

Copyright © 2008, The Rockefeller University Press

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