Dermoepidermal Junction-Rootstocks

The deepest epidermal cell layer is the stratum basale. It consists of columnar   cells with variably shape d branched cell processes, which form a root stock structure in the basal cell region. The rootstock structures anchor the basal cells in the stratum papillare 1 of the corium, which consists of reticular fibrils. This enlarges the contact area between basal cells and the vascularized connective tissue. The basal lamina between rootstock s and stratum papillare remains. The rootstock s contain a multiplex of tonofilament bundles 4  ( intermediary filaments, prokeratin ), which radiate into the row of half-desmosomes at the plasmalemma.  In light microscopy, skin sections display the transition from epidermis to dermis (dermoepidermal junction) as an irregular, wavy line .

1 Stratum papillare with collagen fibrils (type III collagen)

2 Desmosomes

3 Stratum spinosum cells

4 Tonofilaments (intermediary filaments)

Electron microscopy; magnification: × 6000

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgar t · New York .