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Myelinated nerve endings in human skin
Author(s) -
Provitera Vincenzo,
Nolano Maria,
Pagano Angela,
Caporaso Giuseppe,
Stancanelli Annamaria,
Santoro Lucio
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.20771
Subject(s) - free nerve ending , anatomy , medicine , neuroscience , biology
We used immunohistochemical techniques and confocal microscopy to study the morphometry of myelinated nerve endings in glabrous and hairy skin. A total of 30 healthy volunteers took part in this study designed to assess the possibility of obtaining reliable information on myelinated fibers using samples of hairy skin and to determine whether differences exist between myelinated terminations from different sites. We obtained consistent information on cutaneous myelinated terminations using hairy as well as glabrous skin samples. Myelinated endings from hairy and glabrous skin differ in density and distribution. However, from a comparison of our findings with data from nerve biopsy studies, we conclude that all cutaneous myelinated terminations are thinner terminal branches of large myelinated Aβ fibers, whereas cutaneous terminations of small myelinated Aδ fibers lose their myelin before entering the dermis and become indistinguishable from C‐fiber terminations. The classic criteria, based on fiber size, used to distinguish myelinated fiber subgroups in sensory nerves are therefore not suitable for identifying myelinated terminations in the skin. Muscle Nerve, 2007