Figure 7.

In vivo TFETM images acquired from different positions of the distal leg and a diagram of skin innervation with discontinuous-dot-connecting algorithm flowchart

(A, B, E, and F) High melanin content in the basal layers generates a strong epi-THG background in the in vivo TFETM images.

(C and D) Positions 3 and 4 had much lower basal-layer melanin content; the background epi-THG signal was weaker in position 3 than in position 4.

(G) Corresponding positions for (A)–(F) on the foot. Position 1 was above the ankle, position 2 was on the ankle, position 3 was on the side of the heel, position 4 was at the instep arch, position 5 was between the ankle and the bridge, and position 6 was on the bridge.

(H) Diagram of skin innervation. FINEs are shown in magenta. (Case A) FINEs with branching points in the DEJ or dermis were counted separately. (Cases B and C) FINEs with a branching point in the epidermis was considered as 1 IENF. (Case E) Fragments further than 5 μm from the DEJ were not counted as IENFs. (Cases D and F) Fragments closer than 5 μm to the DEJ were counted as IENFs.

(I) Flowchart of the discontinuous dot-connecting algorithm.

Scale bars, 50 μm.