Abstract

Skin samples obtained from various parts of the animal and human bodies have been investigated using the electron microscope techniques. This study shows that the structure of the entire skin of an animal is not of homogeneous nature. The variations followed a definite pattern suggesting a general classification of the various parts of the skin into flexible and non-flexible areas. From the electron microscopical observations, it may be summarised that some common features of skin samples obtained from flexible areas were as follows: (1) presence of individual fibrils, (2) considerable broken fibrils, (3) increased periodicity and decreased diameter of the fibrils, (4) sparse distribution of collagen fibrils in sections, (5) presence of low amounts of amorphous materials, (6) occurrence of circular structure on the surface of the skin. On the contrary non-flexible areas have the following common features: (1) tendency in fibrils to form compact bundles, (2) considerable amounts of intact fibril, (3) comparatively decreased periodicity and increased diameter of the fibrils, (4) close packing of collagen fibrils in sections, (5) presence of large amounts of amorphous materials, and (6) presence of figures resembling triangles and rhombuses on the surface of the skin.