dermis
Last reviewed 01/2018
The dermis is the layer of the skin between the superficial epidermis and the deeper hypodermis. It provides a physical support to the overlying epidermis as well as being the route by which its nutritional needs are supplied.
Using light microscopy, the dermis can be roughly divided into:
- superficial papillary layer: contains relatively more cells, nerve receptors and afferents, and blood vessels
- deep reticular layer: contains relatively thicker connective tissue, fewer cellular elements, and is the site of many epidermal derivatives which grow downwards e.g. hair follicles and sebaceous glands
Dermal components have been divided into:
- cellular elements
- non-cellular elements