Skin Biopsy Specimen

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Features which can be seen in this image include:

• Fibrous connective tissue of dermis, with fibers and ground substance.
• Adipose tissue of the hypodermis.
  • Each large, clear space represents the unstained fat droplet within an adipocyte (fat cell).
  • The several such spaces visible on this image indicate the presence of several adipocytes.  The lines between the spaces represent both the adipocyte cytoplasm and the surrounding collagen which offers some extracellular support for such cells.  Nuclei in such areas may be either those of the adipocytes themselves of those of fibroblasts.
  • Adipocytes characterize the subcutaneous connective tissue ("hypodermis") in most parts of the body.  There is generally not a sharp demarcation between dermis and hypodermis (as evidenced by their combination in this image).
  • Note the presence of several small blood vessels among the adipocytes.
• Blood vessels.
  • The thin endothelial lining of blood vessels contrasts with the cuboidal lining of sweat glands.
  • The individual identities of these vessels as venule, arteriole, or capillary are difficult to determine from this image.  Arterioles may often be identified by a thin band of smooth muscle encircling the vessel.
• Many small features (such as individual fibroblasts and collagen fibers) are not individually labelled.

Comments and questions: dgking@siu.edu

SIUC / School of Medicine / Anatomy / David King

http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/intro/skinbiop/du1SD3d1.htm
Last updated:  11 December 2007  / dgk