Skin, healing injury.

This image illustrates skin healing after a minor injury.

The location is immediately beneath newly forming epidermis, where collagen and blood vessels are forming in the damaged dermis.

Note that active fibroblasts have more evident cytoplasm and more euchromatic nuclei than the resting fibroblasts encountered in most normal skin preparations.  Also note that the collagen fibers in this region of scar formation are larger than typical for papillary dermis.

And note that the vascular spaces contain inflammatory cells (neutrophils) which reflect a recent history of inflammation triggered by the injury and possible contamination.

The context for this view may be more easily appreciated at lower magnification.  Return to the previous window, or click on one of the adjacent thumbnails.

Comments and questions: dgking@siu.edu

SIUC / School of Medicine / Anatomy / David King

http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/intro/IN020b.htm
Last updated:  26 July 2002 / dgk