Skip To Main Content (Press Enter).
CHAPTER 11 - SKIN
Histology Guide
application menu
  • HOME
  • ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
  • CHAPTER 11 - SKIN
  • INDEX
  • SEARCH
  • TERMS OF USE
  • HELP

MICROGRAPH

NAME
EM 314 Pigmented Skin
TISSUE
Thin Skin
(pigmented)
IMAGE SIZE
10.061 x 7,978 pixels
230 MB
FILE SIZES
108,775 KB (grayscale)
119,579 KB (color)
MAGNIFICATION
Unknown
PIXEL SIZE
5.172 nm
SOURCE
Karen Holbrook
Department of Biological Structure
School of Medicine
University of Washington
Seattle, WA

SETTINGS

Version 8.0


Display mode

Viewer options


Move Between WayPoints:



Description

Font size

CONTACT US

Questions or comments should be sent to
tcbrelje@gmail.com

This web site is owned and operated by:

T. Clark Brelje, Ph.D.

Faculty/Retired
University of Minnesota
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
6-160 Jackson Hall
321 Church St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Robert L. Sorenson, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus
University of Minnesota
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
6-160 Jackson Hall
321 Church St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

See Terms of Use for more information.

HELP

See HELP for more extensive information.

Get the User Guide v1.1 to discover new features that can enhance your use of this platform.

Each slide is shown with additional information to its right. The image can be changed using any combination of the following commands.

Sidebar

  • Links: Click to navigate to a specific region
  • Images: Click to show this view
  • Toolbar: Use controls to adjust magnification and pan the image

Mouse

  • Zoom In: Click left button
  • Zoom Out: Double-click left button
  • Pan/Move: Click and drag the image

Keyboard

  • Zoom In: ‘A’ key
  • Zoom Out: ‘Z’ key
  • Pan/Move: Arrow keys (Up, Down, Left, Right)
  • Reset View: ESC key (fit-to-screen view)

Touch

  • Tap: Zoom in on a specific area
  • Double-tap: Zoom out from the current view
  • Drag: Pan the image

SHARE

A link to a micrograph can be saved for later viewing in different ways.

Clipboard

The address of this view has been copied to your clipboard. This link can be pasted in any other program.

Bookmark

A bookmark link can be created using the bookmark function (Ctrl-D for Windows or Cmd-D for Mac) of your browser. Choose a name for the bookmark and select the folder in which you want it saved.

EM 314 Pigmented Skin

Pigmented Skin

Transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of thin skin from a dark-skinned individual.

Melanin is produced by melanocytes (not visible) in special organelles named melanosomes which are transferred to adjacent keratinocytes to induce pigmentation.

Four layers (or strata) can be distinguished in the epidermis of thin skin

  • (stratum germinativum; blue) - single layer of cuboidal to columnar cells resting on the basal lamina
    • - granules clustered over the apical surface of nuclei to protect DNA from UV radiation
  • (purple) - two to three layers of cells interconnected by "spinous" processes
    • Fewer melanosomes clustered over the apical surface of nuclei
  • (yellow) - thin layer of cells with keratohyalin granules
    • Scattered melanosomes remain over the apical surface of some nuclei
  • (orange) - outermost layer of flattened, dead cells devoid of nuclei or organelles.
    • Scattered melanosomes

Courtesy of Karen Hollbrook, Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.

© 2005-2026. T. Clark Brelje and Robert L. Sorenson