THE EPIDERMAL-DERMAL JUNCTION OF NORMAL HUMAN SKIN AS SEEN IN FREEZE-ETCH PREPARATIONS

SUMMARY.— The epidermal–dermal junction has been examined by the replication of freeze‐fractured human skin. A basement zone about 150 nm. in depth has been observed which continuously separates epidermis from dermis. This relatively broad region has been interpreted as the hydrated form of the basement membrane. The convoluted nature of the epidermal–dermal junction and the plasmalemmae of the basal cells is more easily followed by this method of examination, which also brings out the complexity of these appositions. No hemidesmosomes have been observed in the contacts between the basal cells and basement membrane. Desmosomal contacts between basal cells differ in appearance from those seen in thin sections and possibly involve portions of the basement zone.