Question

What is ‘Rete Pegs’?

Answer 1

Hint: The outermost tissue is called epithelial tissue and it consists of different structures and thus performs different functions.

Complete answer:
The skin of the body is mainly divided into three layers- epidermis, dermis and subcutis.
Epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and it is mainly responsible for functions like prevention of water loss from the body, prevents pathogens from directly entering the body, and also acts as a physical barrier. Epithelium layer mostly consists of stratified squamous epithelium cells, which means flattened cells are present.
The extensions of epithelial tissue which projects into the underlying skin or connective tissues are called Rete pegs. They perform the function of protecting the tissues from shearing. They are mostly present in the skin and the mucous membrane.
These are the epidermal cells which are responsible for forming an undulating appearance, which are known to produce intermittent regular protrusions of the epidermal layer into other upper layers of the underlying layer called dermis. In some organs of the body for example the palms and soles, the structure of the rete pegs are less pronounced.
The pillars of underlying layer which is dermis, present next to the rete pegs forms the structures called as the rete ridges. The small area of the epidermis which is present between the cells of rete pegs is called the suprapapillary plate.

Note: In simple words, rete pegs can also be defined as the projection of the epidermal cells in downward direction between the dermal papillae.