Skin Biopsy Specimen

Point and click for more information on a feature.

Features which can be seen in this image include:

• Connective tissue of dermis, with fibers and ground substance.
• A sweat gland (both duct and secretory portion).
  • Multiple sections through the coiled tubule of a single sweat gland appear in this micrograph.  Note that the epithelium of this duct is cuboidal (much thicker than the simple squamous endothelium which lines blood vessels).
  • Note that collagen fibers in the connective tissue around the sweat gland are more finely textured than those in surrounding dermis.
• Blood vessels.
  • The thin endothelial lining of blood vessels contrasts with the cuboidal lining of sweat glands.
  • The individual identities of these vessels as venule, arteriole, or capillary are difficult to determine from this image.  Arterioles may often be identified by a thin band of smooth muscle encircling the vessel.
• Many small features (such as individual fibroblasts and collagen fibers) are not individually labelled.

Comments and questions: dgking@siu.edu

SIUC / School of Medicine / Anatomy / David King

http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/intro/skinbiop/du1SD3b3.htm
Last updated:  11 December 2007  / dgk