Skip to content
Human Body Study

Dermis

The thick, living layer beneath the epidermis — the skin’s working core.

The skin and its appendages A cross-section of skin showing its three layers — epidermis, dermis and hypodermis — together with the hair, sebaceous glands and sweat glands that pass through them. A small inset shows a fingertip with its nail. Each label links to the article for that part. Nails Epidermis Hair Sebaceous glands Dermis Sweat glands Hypodermis Cross-section of skin and its appendages — schematic, not to scale.

Structure

Section titled “Structure”

A connective-tissue layer rich in collagen and elastin fibers, which give skin its strength and stretch. It has two zones: a thin papillary layer (its ridges produce fingerprints) and a deeper, denser reticular layer.

What it contains

Section titled “What it contains”
  • Blood vessels — feed the skin and regulate heat loss.
  • Nerve endings and sensory receptors — for touch, pressure, temperature, and pain.
  • Hair follicles and glands — rooted in the dermis.

What it does

Section titled “What it does”

Provides strength and elasticity, houses sensation, regulates temperature through blood flow, and nourishes the epidermis above.

Key idea

Section titled “Key idea”

The dermis is where the skin’s real work happens — sensing, thermoregulating, and supplying the epidermis, which has no blood supply of its own.