Skin histology

Normal skin histology

The skin is made out of three different layers:
1. Epidermis:
  • Stratum corneum
  • Stratum granulosum
  • Stratum basalis

    • 2. Dermis:
  • Papillary dermis
  • Reticular dermis

    • 3. Subcutis: mainly fat.
    skin histology


    Common words used:

    ~ Spongiosis: is when fluid builds up in the skin (mainly intracellular edema) leading to the increased space between cells in the epidermis making the desmosomes (intracellular bridges) visible on HE-stain.
    ~ Civatte bodies: are apoptotic "dead" keratinocytes.
    ~ Acantholysis: means loss of intracellular connection between keratinocytes, so they fall from each other.