Skin Anatomy |
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Epidermis: Top Layer of Skin Structure: Contains 5 Layers. The bottom layer, stratum basale, has cells that are shaped like columns. In this layer the cell divide and push already formed cells into higher layers. As the cells move into the higher layers, they flatten out and eventually die. Function: The epidermis is a protective barrier, and it is very involved in making sure that the body stays at a proper temperature. It also gathers sensory information from the environment, and plays an active part in the immune system. Specialized Epidermal Cells produce pigment, and protect the body from diseases. (Source 1)
Dermis: Bottom Layer of Skin Structure: The upper, papillary layer, contains a thin arrangement of collagen fibers. The lower, reticular layer, is thicker and made of thick collagen fibers that are arranged parallel to the skins surface. Function: The hair follicles are situated here with the erector pili muscle that attaches to each follicle. Sebaceous (oil) glands and apocrine (scent) glands are associated with the follicle. This layer also contains eccrine (sweat) glands, but they are not associated with hair follicles. Blood vessels and nerves course through this layer. The nerves transmit sensations of pain, itch, and temperature. There are also specialized nerve cells called Meissner's and Vater-Pacini corpuscles that transmit the sensations of touch and pressure. (source 1)
Tissue The outermost epidermis consists of stratified squamous epithelium.The dermis lyes below the epidermis and contains a number of structures including blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, smooth muscle, glands and lymphatic tissue. It consists of loose connective tissue. (Source 1)
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Layers of the skin  google images Epithelium tissue  google images Connective Tissue  google images
How Do Tattoos Relate to Skin Anatomy? When ink is injected in to the skin to create a tattoo it spreads from the puncture site to the epidermis and dermis layer of the skin. The epidermis is the upper layer of the skin that sheds dead skin and replenishes the skin. This layer of the skin contains keratin-producing cells that are important to immune responses and cells that produce pigment. As the tattoo heals the epidermis layer of the skin phagocytes (healing cells) engulf the ink injected in to the skin and flakes off, taking the ink with them. The dermis is the skin layer beneath the epidermis. This is where ink becomes trapped in fibroblast cells and collagen. If a tattoo is properly done, the tattoo ink will not reach the bottom layer of the skin, known as the hypodermis. This is a layer of fatty tissue that supports the dermis and epidermis. As a tattoo gets older the ink can migrate deeper in to the dermis layer of the skin causing fading of a tattoo. (source 1 and 2)
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