<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Visual perception of human skin is determined by the light that reflects off the skin surface to retina and interpretation of these information by visual centers in the brain cortex. Skin has a partly translucent and turbid structure and visual perceptions depend on interactions between the light and structures of the skin surface and below it, through absorption, reflection and scattering. Light absorption by the skin depends on the composition, absorption spectra and amount (volume fraction) of chromophores. Subsurface scattering occurs within the skin layers: Rayleigh scattering (subcellular structures sized up to 1/10 of incident wavelength) and Mie scattering (collagen, melanosomes). Due to fluctuations of the refractive index within tissue components and intense scattering, the spatial distribution of light within the skin is diffuse. Skin images are created by the light that reflects off the skin after being color-modified by absorption and being scattered on the skin surface and internal skin structures.</p></abstract>

Visual perception of human skin is determined by the light that reflects off the skin surface to retina and interpretation of these information by visual centers in the brain cortex. Skin has a partly translucent and turbid structure and visual perceptions depend on interactions between the light and structures of the skin surface and below it, through absorption, reflection and scattering. Light absorption by the skin depends on the composition, absorption spectra and amount (volume fraction) of chromophores. Subsurface scattering occurs within the skin layers: Rayleigh scattering (subcellular structures sized up to 1/10 of incident wavelength) and Mie scattering (collagen, melanosomes). Due to fluctuations of the refractive index within tissue components and intense scattering, the spatial distribution of light within the skin is diffuse. Skin images are created by the light that reflects off the skin after being color-modified by absorption and being scattered on the skin surface and internal skin structures.

Optical properties of the human skin / Optičke osobine ljudske kože

Institute of Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia

Clinic of Dermatovenereology Diseases, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia

Serbian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology

{"article-title":"Optical properties of the human skin / Optičke osobine ljudske kože"}

Visual perception of human skin is determined by the light that reflects off the skin surface to retina and interpretation of these information by visual...

Optical properties of the human skin / Optičke osobine ljudske kože

Published Online: Feb 12, 2013

Page range: 131 - 136

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10249-011-0029-5

Keywords
Skin, Skin Absorption, Light, Optical Processes, Sunlight

This content is open access.

Optical properties of the human skin / Optičke osobine ljudske kože

Published Online: Feb 12, 2013

Page range: 131 - 136

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10249-011-0029-5

KeywordsSkin, Skin Absorption, Light, Optical Processes, Sunlight

This content is open access.

Keywords
Skin, Skin Absorption, Light, Optical Processes, Sunlight