Search Results

The Skin: A Multi-Cellular Barrier to the External World The skin is a multi-layered organ that covers the entire body and protects us from the external environment. The outermost layer, the epidermis, is largely composed of keratinocytes, which proliferate in the lower epidermis and migrate out, becoming post-mitotic and losing their nuclei, eventually becoming corneocytes.…

The Barrier Function of the Skin Protects the Body from the External Environment The skin is the largest organ of the body and as the outer covering of the body, has a significant protective role. The outermost layer of the skin is called the epidermis, and is composed of multiple layers of keratinocytes. Keratinocytes proliferate…

Cells of the Skin: Keratinocytes and Melanocytes The skin has three layers, the epidermis (outermost), the dermis (middle), and the hypodermis (the innermost). The epidermis is largely composed of keratinocytes, which form a barrier against the external environment and play a role in wound repair. Melanocytes are another common cell type found in the skin.…

The skin is a multi-layered organ that covers the entire body and serves as a barrier to the outside environment. The outermost layer is called the epidermis and is composed largely of keratinocytes, which function to provide a barrier to pathogens, temperature, UV radiation, and other damaging environmental factors. Also contained in the epidermis are…

Spring is on the way, and with it — more sunshine, and more reminders to wear sunscreen. There is a good reason to wear sunscreen: it protects against melanoma, the incidence of which has been increasing in recent years, making it a key public health concern. A group of researchers from the University of New Mexico…

The skin is the largest organ of the human body composed of the epidermis (upper or outer layer) and the dermis (lower or inner layer). The epidermis, which is made up of three kinds of cells: keratinocytes, basal cells, and melanocytes, is susceptible to DNA damage caused by exposure to harmful solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR).…

The Role of IL-22/PLCε Signaling in Psoriasis The outermost layer of the skin is the epidermis, which primarily functions as a protective mechanical barrier preventing the entry of harmful pathogens. The epidermis is predominantly composed of keratinocytes, but also contains other cell types like melanocytes, Langerhans cells, Merkel cells, and inflammatory cells. Psoriasis is a…

Melanoma: Causes and Prevention Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that arises from melanocytes, the pigmented cell type of the skin found in the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis). Although melanoma makes up only a small percentage of skin cancers (about 1%), it is responsible for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths.…

Anatomy of the Skin, the Body’s Largest Organ The skin is the largest organ in the human body and is the largest area in contact with the external environment. In addition to providing physical protection, the skin also regulates body temperature and provides sensory information. As a result, it must be resilient enough to survive…

The Multiple Layers and Cell Types of the Skin The skin is the ultimate barrier to the external environment, with a coverage area of the entire body. To perform its specialized functions, the skin is composed of multiple layers: the epidermis (outermost layer) and dermis (innermost layer). Below the dermis is the hypodermis, which is…