Merkel Cells
Merkel cells are highly specialized cells that act as pressure receptors in the epidermis.
Merkel cells. These cells are very close to nerve endings in the skin. Merkel cells are found mainly at the base of the top layer of the skin the epidermis. Although it represents less than 1 of all nonmelanoma skin cancers its incidence has raised in the last years. The origin of merkel cells themselves is debated and proposed to be derived from neural crest cells or epidermal progenitors.
Merkel cells are thought to be a type of skin neuroendocrine cell because they share some features with nerve cells and hormone making cells. However recent research suggests that it is unlikely that mcc originates directly from normal merkel cells. Merkel cells are oval shaped and their membrane interacts with nerve endings in the skin with synapse like structures. Merkel cells were discovered by friedrich sigmund merkel in 1875 29.
Researchers recently discovered that a common virus plays a role in causing most cases of merkel cell carcinoma. Merkel cells also known as merkel ranvier cells or tactile epithelial cells are oval shaped mechanoreceptors essential for light touch sensation and found in the skin of vertebrates. Merkel cell carcinoma mcc which is thought to arise from merkel cells is a relatively rare but very aggressive neuroendocrine cancer of the skin associated with advanced age and immunosuppression. But in a few people with this infection the virus can affect the dna inside cells which can.
Merkel cells are connected to nerves signaling touch sensation as touch receptors mcc was named after merkel cells due to the similar microscopic features. Merkel cells are found at the base of the outermost layer of your skin epidermis. Conflicting evidence suggests that these cells are lineally descended from either the skin or the neural crest. Merkel cell polyomavirus mcv mcv was discovered in 2008 in samples from a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer called merkel cell carcinoma.
Medical definition of merkel cell. A cell that occurs in the basal part of the epidermis is characterized by dense granules in its cytoplasm is closely associated with the unmyelinated tip of a nerve fiber and probably functions in tactile sensory perception. Merkel cells are connected to the nerve endings in the skin that are responsible for the sense of touch. They are abundant in highly sensitive skin like that of the fingertips in humans and make synaptic contacts with somatosensory afferent nerve fibers.
Merkel cells are specialized cells in the skin that are important for proper neural encoding of light touch stimuli.