Skin Biopsy Specimen
Point and click for more information on a feature.
Features which can be seen in this image include:
The most conspicuous feature in this image is a small nerve.
- The fibrous texture of the nerve consists of myelinated and unmyelinated axons (nerve fibers). Nerves have a characteristically wavy or swirled appearance, because the the delicate axons are generally longer than the distance they travel (to allow for stretch).
- Nuclei within the nerve belong either to Schwann cells (which provide myelin) or to fibroblasts (which provide supporting collagen fibers.) Nuclei of the cells whose axons travel through this nerve are themselves are far away, in sensory or autonomic ganglia.
- Nerves near the surface of the skin are generally small and inconspicuous, although deeper -- where more axons are bundled together -- they can be more noticable and easier to recognize (as in this image).
- Fibrous connective tissue of dermis, with fibers and ground substance.
- Adipose tissue of the hypodermis.
- Each large, clear space represents the unstained fat droplet within an adipocyte (fat cell).
- The several such spaces visible on this image indicate the presence of several adipocytes. The lines between the spaces represent both the adipocyte cytoplasm and the surrounding collagen which offers some extracellular support for such cells. Nuclei in such areas may be either those of the adipocytes themselves of those of fibroblasts.
- Adipocytes characterize the subcutaneous connective tissue ("hypodermis") in most parts of the body. There is generally not a sharp demarcation between dermis and hypodermis (as evidenced by their combination in this image).
- Note the presence of several small blood vessels among the adipocytes.
- Blood vessels.
- 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/du1SD3d2.htm
Last updated: 11 December 2007 / dgk