Korean J Dermatol.  1988 Aug;26(4):489-495.

A Morphological Study of Stratum Corneum

• Lee SN
• Bang DS
• Song DH

Abstract

Stratum corneum was obtained from 10 healthy individuals aged 23 and 24 years, in order to observe morphological differences in a three-dimensionsl structure of stratum corneum from 3 anatomical sites, i. e., flexor surface of the forearm, abdomen, and palm. The stratum corneum obtained by the skin surface biopsy was ohserved under a scanning electron microscope(SME). The surfaces of stratum eorneum obtained by the replice, technique were observed under a stereomicrascope(SM). The results were as follows : 1) SEM observation of the posterior surfaces of the stratum corneum from the skin surface biopsies of the flexor surface of the forearm and abdomen showed divisions with folding lines which were elliptic in the forearm and squere in the abdomen. But there were no similar folding linea in the palm. Among the 3 anatomiral sites, overlapping corneocytes on the palm were most prominent. On a higher magnification, small pits and fine wrinklings in the forearm, fine wrinklings in the abdomen, and villous projections in the palm were observed respeeti vely. 2) SM observation of the stratum corneum from the negative replica of the flexor surface of the forearm, abdomen, and palm showed divisions with folding lines which were X-shape a.t the site of their crossinga in the forearm, *-shape in the abdomen, and linear shape in the palm, Among the 3 snatomical sites, tiny holes on the palm were most prominent. Follicular openings were observed on the pa1m, and abdomen,

Keyword

Stratum corneum; Morphology

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Biopsy
Forearm
Skin