Abstract
Mammals are covered by the epidermis, consisting of a soft inner portion, called the Malpighian layer, and a hardened outer cornified portion. The inner part maintains the tissue by proliferation and differentiation of its cellular components, the outer part protects the organism from the environment. On the surface of the epidermis inscriptions occur forming characteristic ridges and sulci (Fig. 1). The inner surface may be smooth or rough, forming branching ridges and mounds enclosing valleys and craters (Montagna and Parakkal 1974). Thus the architecture of the epidermis varies from site to site in relation to its surface and undersurface structures. In general the epidermis is thicker over glabrous skin than over hairy skin, it is thickest on the palm, sole, paw, muzzle and tail. In man its thickness varies from 0.8 to 1.4 mm. The epidermis merges with mucous epithelia of the eye, nose, ear, mouth, rectum and genitalia and its continuity is interrupted by appendages of the skin.
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© 1986 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Matoltsy, A.G. (1986). Structure and Function of the Mammalian Epidermis. In: Bereiter-Hahn, J., Matoltsy, A.G., Richards, K.S. (eds) Biology of the Integument. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-00989-5_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-00989-5_14
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