The Number and Distribution of Merkel Cells in Rudimentary Polydactyly

Abstract

The normal number of Merkel cells in the mature cases suggests that abundant Merkel cells may appear at first and disappear after the development of neural proliferation. Merkel cells may be associated with the generation of cutaneous nerve plexus and nerve endings in the upper dermis, and possibly with the development of Meissner corpuscles, at the early stage of rudimentary polydactyly.