Hair Follicles and Sweat Gland in Skin

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Two hair follicles and a sweat gland are visible in this image of skin.  These epidermal derivatives are surrounded by fibrous connective tissue of the dermis.

In section, hair follicles typically appear as oval structures (such as in this view), more or less elongated, with a thick wall of stratified squamous epithelium and a central lumen that might (or might not) contain a hair shaft.  

The hair shaft is attached only in the bulb at the bottom of the follicle, so when the tissue is sliced to prepare a slide, the sectioned bit of hair may fall out.

The appearance of hair follicles varies considerably, both with depth in the dermis and also with growth phase.  Consult a histology text for details.

Sweat glands typically appear as clusters of several round or oval profiles, as shown here.  Each profile represents a section across the twisted tubule which comprises the gland.

For an enlarged view of the sweat gland, click here or on the thumbnail at right.

Much of the area of this this image is occupied by connective tissue of the dermis, consisting of collagen (pink), ground substance (pale background), and scattered fibroblasts and other connective tissue cells (dark).

To view this region at lower magnification, in a view that includes hypodermis, click here or on the thumbnail at right.

 

Comments and questions: dgking@siu.edu

SIUC / School of Medicine / Anatomy / David King

https://histology.siu.edu/intro/IN001b.htm
Last updated:  12 June 2022 / dgk