Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cells of the Epidermis

Cells of the Epidermis

The epidermis is made of four or five layers of epithelial cells, depending on its location in the body. From deep to superficial, these layers are the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum, and stratum corneum.
The cells in all these layers except the stratum basale are called keratinocytes, a type of cell that manufactures and stores the protein keratin. The keratinocytes in the stratum corneum are dead and regularly slough away, being replaced by cells from...

Desmosomes

Desmosomes

The term desmosome derives from the Greek words "desmo" and "soma" meaning "adhesion bodies." This structure was first observed during the late 1800s and described as small, dense nodules in the epidermis. Desmosomes are button-like structures that help form an interlinked network of intermediate filaments across the cells. These junctions are essential to hold cells together under mechanical stress and to maintain tissue integrity. Desmosomes are multi-protein complexes comprising desmosomal...

Layers of the Epidermis

Layers of the Epidermis

The epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, is composed of several distinct layers. From deep to superficial, the layers of the epidermis are as follows:
Stratum Basale
Stratum basale, also known as the stratum germinativum, is the deepest layer of the epidermis. It is composed of a single layer of actively dividing cells called basal cells or basal keratinocytes. These cells constantly undergo cell division to replenish the upper layers of the epidermis. Additionally, melanocytes, which...

Reticular Dermis

Reticular Dermis

The papillary and reticular dermis are the two layers of the dermis. They are made of connective tissue with fibers of collagen extending from one to the other, making the border between the two somewhat indistinct. The dermal papillae extending into the epidermis belong to the papillary layer, whereas the dense collagen fiber bundles below belong to the reticular layer.
Reticular Layer
Underlying the papillary layer is the much thicker reticular layer, composed of dense, irregular connective...

Accessory Structures of the Skin: Sebaceous Glands

Accessory Structures of the Skin: Sebaceous Glands

A sebaceous gland is a type of oil gland found almost all over the skin ( except palms and soles) and helps lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair. Most sebaceous glands are associated with hair follicles. They generate and excrete sebum, a mixture of lipids, onto the skin surface, thereby naturally lubricating the dry and dead layer of keratinized cells of the stratum corneum, keeping it pliable.
These glands that produce the oils on the skin and hair are holocrine glands. The mature...

Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis

Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis

The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Comment on: 'Structural and functional differences in skin of colour'.

Clinical and experimental dermatology·2021

Same author

Topical niacinamide enhances hydrophobicity and resilience of corneocyte envelopes on different facial locations.

International journal of cosmetic science·2020

Same author

Microbes: Fighting for space on a fragile interface.

International journal of cosmetic science·2020

Same author

Personal views on the life, times and achievements of Professor Ronald Marks: a pioneering dermatologist, bioinstrumentalist and corneobiologist.

International journal of cosmetic science·2020

Same author

An image-based mapping of significance and relevance of facial skin colour changes of females living in Thailand.

International journal of cosmetic science·2019

Same author

Expression and ultrastructural localization of plasmin(ogen) in the terminally differentiated layers of normal human epidermis.

International journal of cosmetic science·2019

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Effect of Artificial Tear Formulations on the Metabolic Activity of Human Corneal Epithelial Cells after Exposure to Desiccation

Effect of Artificial Tear Formulations on the Metabolic Activity of Human Corneal Epithelial Cells after Exposure to Desiccation

Published on: May 2, 2020

Dry skin, moisturization and corneodesmolysis.

C R Harding¹, A Watkinson, A V Rawlings

¹Dept of Cell Biology and Physiology, Unilever Research, Colworth Laboratory, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1LQ, U.K.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science

|May 28, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Skin shedding, or desquamation, is an orderly process in healthy skin. Impaired corneodesmosome degradation in dry skin leads to visible flakes, highlighting the need for new therapies.

More Related Videos

Measuring and Modeling Contractile Drying in Human Stratum Corneum

Measuring and Modeling Contractile Drying in Human Stratum Corneum

Published on: March 1, 2017

Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale

Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale

Published on: May 28, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Effect of Artificial Tear Formulations on the Metabolic Activity of Human Corneal Epithelial Cells after Exposure to Desiccation

Effect of Artificial Tear Formulations on the Metabolic Activity of Human Corneal Epithelial Cells after Exposure to Desiccation

Published on: May 2, 2020

Measuring and Modeling Contractile Drying in Human Stratum Corneum

Measuring and Modeling Contractile Drying in Human Stratum Corneum

Published on: March 1, 2017

Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale

Cultivating a Three-dimensional Reconstructed Human Epidermis at a Large Scale

Published on: May 28, 2021

Area of Science:

Dermatology and Skin Biology
Biochemistry of the Skin Barrier
Cellular Biology of Epidermal Turnover

Background:

Desquamation is the natural shedding of skin cells (corneocytes) from the surface.
Corneocyte cohesion is maintained by corneodesmosomes and intercellular lipids.
Proper desquamation ensures skin integrity and is crucial for barrier function.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling desquamation.
To understand the role of corneodesmosomes and their degradation in skin health.
To identify factors contributing to abnormal desquamation in dry skin conditions.

Main Methods:

Analysis of corneocyte cohesion and intercellular structures.
Investigation of enzyme activity (serine proteases) involved in corneodesmolysis.
Correlation of lipid composition and water availability with desquamation efficiency.

Main Results:

Corneodesmosome degradation, controlled by serine proteases and water availability, is essential for normal desquamation.
In dry skin, impaired corneodesmosome degradation leads to visible flaking.
Reduced enzyme activity or altered lipid microenvironment disrupts the final stages of desquamation.

Conclusions:

Understanding desquamation mechanisms offers insights into dry skin pathogenesis.
Novel therapeutic strategies can be developed to correct impaired desquamation.
Targeting corneodesmolysis holds promise for treating dry skin conditions.