Histological Study of Horse Skin
February 2023
in “
Mağallaẗ Tikrīt li-l-ʻulūm al-ṣirfaẗ/Tikrit journal of pure science
”
epidermis dermis stratum corneum stratum granulosum stratum spinosum stratum basale melanocytes papillary layer collagenous fibers fibroblasts primary hair follicles sweat glands sebaceous glands simple tubular glands myoepithelial cells hair shaft medulla cortical layer secondary follicles arrector pili muscles skin top layer of skin bottom layer of skin outermost layer of skin granular layer spiny layer basal layer pigment cells upper dermis collagen fibers skin cells main hair follicles sweat-producing glands oil glands simple sweat glands muscle cells around glands hair core hair cortex secondary hair follicles hair-raising muscles
TLDR Horse skin has a layered epidermis, a dermis with hair follicles, sweat and sebaceous glands, and is supplied by small arteries.
The study examined the skin of six anesthetized and slaughtered horses, focusing on the dorsal back area. Tissue samples were fixed in 10% formalin and prepared for light microscopic examination. The findings revealed that horse skin is composed of an epidermis and dermis. The epidermis is a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium with four layers: stratum corneum, granulosum, spinosum, and basale, with melanocytes located in the stratum basale. The dermis consists of a papillary layer with collagenous fibers and fibroblasts, and primary hair follicles surrounded by sweat and sebaceous glands. Sweat glands are simple tubular glands lined by simple cuboidal epithelium with myoepithelial cells around the alveoli. Sebaceous glands are double saccule structures lined by simple cuboidal epithelium containing fat droplets. Primary hair follicles have a hair shaft with a medulla enclosed by a cortical layer, and both primary and secondary follicles are attached to arrector pili muscles. Small arteries near the hair follicles supply oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
