ix THE SKIN 181 



cells, which, according to Mayer, arise from the modifica- 

 tion of cells of the typical form, and, by acquiring pigment, 

 become later transformed into chromatophores. In the 

 outer portion of the epidermis occur scattered oval or flask- 

 shaped cells, the upper portion or neck of which lies just 

 beneath the stratum corneum. According to F. E. Schultze 

 they produce a secretion which passes between the stratum 

 corneum and the subsequent layer of cells and aids in 

 shedding the skin. Pfitzner, on the other hand, regards 

 them as degenerate epithelial cells which retain the me- 

 chanical function of holding the stratum corneum in contact 

 with the underlying layer. Modifications of the outer layer 

 or stratum corneum are found in the small stoma cells, 

 which are situated over the necks of the cutaneous glands. 

 The necks of these glands open to the surface through a 

 small triradiate aperture which is raised slightly above the 

 general level. This aperture has generally been regarded 

 as passing through a single cell (Harless, Ciaccio, Eberth, 

 Engelmann, Heidenhain, Nicoglu), but, according to Junius, 

 what has been heretofore considered as one cell is really 

 made up of several, the boundaries between which have 

 disappeared. 



The corium is separable into two layers, an outer com- 

 paratively loose layer (stratum spongiosum}, which con- 

 tains most of the glands, and an inner layer (stratum com- 

 pactuni], which is formed of very dense connective tissue. 

 The stratum spongiosum consists of a loose network of 

 fibrous connective tissue, richly supplied with lymph spaces 

 and blood vessels. Just beneath the epidermis it forms a 

 thin layer which contains numerous pigment cells. In the 

 deeper portion are embedded the glands. Thickenings of 

 the stratum spongiosum form the basis of the dermal papillae 

 mentioned above. 



