Objective To find new ways for wound healing and tissue expansion by reviewing of progress in recent years in functional molecules which are used for signaling channels of mechanical stress perception and mechanotransduction of keratinocyte. Methods The domestic and international articles were reviewed to summarize the functional molecules and signaling channels of mechanical stress perception and mechanotransduction of keratinocytes. Results The mechanism of mechanical stress perception includes mechano-sensitive channels, growth factor receptor-mediated mechanical stress perception, and mechanical stress perception by protein deformation. The mechanism of mechanotransduction includes cell adhesion-mediated signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix, and so on. Conclusion Keratinocytes can response to the mechanical stress and transfer the effective information to undergo shaping, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and other biological behavior in order to adjust itself to adapt to the new environment.