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Stratum Layer Research Paper

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Stratum means that the cells are in layers. The stratum Corneum consists dead, keratinized cells. This layer can be thick or thin depending on its location. On the palms and soles it is thicker for more protection. It is about 0-15 µm from the skins surface. In RCM images, this layer appears bright because keratinocytes have a high refractive index. Keratinocytes are cells that produce keratin, which is a structural protein. The next layer is the stratum Granulosum. The cells in this layer appear as granules when stained, hence the name. There are also keratinocytes in this layer. This layer is about 15-29 µm below the skin surface. In RCM images, in this layer there is cytoplasm and nuclei. The cytoplasm appears grainy because of the organelles located in it and the nuclei appear …show more content…

The next layer in the epidermis is the stratum Spinosum. In this layer the cells are connected to each other by desmosomes that appear as spines. The nuclei are also smaller that the nuclei in the Granulosum layer. This layer is about 20-100 µm below the skin surface. The last layer of the epidermis is the basal layer. In this layer the cells line up with each other and there are also melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, which is the pigment that appears in skin. The cells in this layer often divide to replace the cells in the layers above it. Melanocytes appear as bright, round cells and basal cells are small and bright in RCM images. The next layer that appears in the skin is the dermal-epidermal junction. This is where the epidermis and the dermis meet. There are two parts to the dermis: the papillary dermis and the reticular dermis. The papillary dermis has finger like projections that touch the epidermis. This layer is around 100-150 µm below the skin surface. In RCM images, one can see blood flow. There are also collagen fibers in dermis and they appear very

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