Skin histology

Normal skin histology

The skin is made out of three different layers:
Epidermis: Stratum corneum, stratum granulosum, stratum spongiosum, stratum basalis.
Dermis: papillary and reticular dermis.
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.