Fig. 1. In elderly skin a senile angioma or ‘venous lake’ is surrounded by increased transparency and a visible horizontal subpapillary venous plexus.

Fig. 2. A diagram illustrating the loops of the upper dermal papillary capillaries lying close to the epidermis and superficial to the horizontal venous plexus and lymphatic plexus.

Fig. 3. A view of the surface of the transparent ageing skin showing dilated venules (magnification×12).

Fig. 4. A histological section from human elderly thigh adipose tissue showing characteristic variability in diameter not a feature of young tissue.

Fig. 5. In vivo ultrasound illustrating how water content is depicted by black and is a feature immediately deep to the epidermis (in white).

Fig. 6. Gross swelling of the leg in lymphoedema with thickening and irregularity of the skin around the ankle.

Fig. 7. Orcein stain of elastin fibres shows up the ‘elastic’ support of a lymphatic lying at the junction of the upper and middle dermis.

Fig. 8. Dense collections of abnormal fibres in the upper dermis (elastosis) jeopardise the passage of information passing from the epidermis to the lymphatics and alter the pliability and distensibility of the skin in aged and previously UV exposed skin.

Fig. 9. Illustration of the expansion of the upper dermis when the effect of VEGF is to greatly increase permeability. It draws attention to a potential mechanical transduction of chemical signals affecting angiogenesis.

Fig. 10. Dilated veins in the skin of the lower leg with pigmentation; a hallmark of venous hypertension and leakage of blood vessel contents into the skin.

Fig. 11. Diagram illustrating a comparison of atrophic and hyperplastic vasculature of the skin. The vessels in atrophy lie at a greater distance from the epidermis making communication between the vessel and the tissue supplied much less effective.