Skin: Cell Types Composing the Tissue

The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It is part of the integumentary system, which not only includes the skin but also hair, nails, nerve receptors, and exocrine glands. Human skin has two main layers: an outer layer, the epidermis, and an inner layer, the dermis. Beneath both these layers lies the hypodermis, which is a fatty layer made up of adipocytes, or fat cells. Another name for the hypodermis is superficial fascia. The hypodermis covers the underlying tissue and organs of the body.

Anatomy of the Epidermis

The epidermis is made up of a maximum of five layers, depending on its thickness. The deepest layer of the epidermis is called the stratum basale. This is a single layer of cells separated from the ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles