THE SKIN. 



69 



Immediately beneath the last-named layer, the cells become strik- 

 ingly altered in form and appearance. The prickle cells are poly- 

 gons or compressed spheroids, with large, oval nuclei, and minute, 

 projecting spines. By means of these processes they are very firmly 

 united. 



The fifth and last (deepest) layer of the epidermis is composed of 

 a single rank of elongate cells, placed with their long axes at right 

 angles to the surface of the skin. These cells contain the pigment 

 which gives the hue peculiar to the skin of colored individuals. 



FIG. 53. VERTICAL SECTION OP THE EPIDERMIS FROM THE PALM OF THE HAND. Stained with 



Hasina, and Eosin. 



A. Stratum corneum. 



B. Stratum lucidum. 



C. Stratum granulosum. 



D. Prickle cells of rete mucosum or R. Malpighii. 



E. Stratum of elongate cells, the lower limit of the epidermis. 



F. F. Indicate the position of two papillee of the true skin or derma. X 400. 



The first two layers of the epidermis constitute, properly, the 

 horny layer; while the remaining three strata compose the rete mu- 

 cosum or rete Malpighii. 



The derma, corium, or true skin is composed of dense, fibrillated 

 connective tissue, so formed as to present minute elevations or papil- 



