Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Dermis
open-in-new
<p>The dermis or corium is a layer of <a href="/facts/Skin/4havlLzG">skin</a> between the <a href="/facts/Epidermis_(skin)/JvRABubP">epidermis</a> (with which it makes up the <a href="/facts/Cutis_(anatomy)/vbq9I5TF">cutis</a>) and <a href="/facts/Subcutaneous_tissue/EPYjXN3G">subcutaneous tissues</a>, that primarily consists of <a href="/facts/Dense_irregular_connective_tissue/fd2DpfGo">dense irregular connective tissue</a> and cushions the body from stress and strain. It is divided into two layers, the superficial area adjacent to the epidermis called the papillary region and a deep thicker area known as the reticular dermis. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis through a <a href="/facts/Basement_membrane/vA9N6l2g">basement membrane</a>. Structural components of the dermis are <a href="/facts/Collagen/KsyAb72K">collagen</a>, <a href="/facts/Elastic_fiber/1pk7dL9h">elastic fibers</a>, and <a href="/facts/Ground_substance/nvpvRF9e">extrafibrillar matrix</a>. It also contains <a href="/facts/Mechanoreceptor/rj6j4Nt3">mechanoreceptors</a> that provide the sense of <a href="/facts/Touch/0nhRsBnt">touch</a> and <a href="/facts/Thermoreceptor/sH49VAy0">thermoreceptors</a> that provide the sense of <a href="/facts/Heat/FjDGssCs">heat</a>. In addition, <a href="/facts/Hair_follicles/SXsAKufM">hair follicles</a>, <a href="/facts/Sweat_glands/T9nLT1V4">sweat glands</a>, <a href="/facts/Sebaceous_glands/HKMXmv1Y">sebaceous glands (oil glands)</a>, <a href="/facts/Apocrine_glands/G7BJvS7I">apocrine glands</a>, <a href="/facts/Lymphatic_vessels/jND0hlDu">lymphatic vessels</a>, nerves and <a href="/facts/Blood_vessels/FG3GjPNW">blood vessels</a> are present in the dermis. Those blood vessels provide nourishment and waste removal for both dermal and epidermal cells. </p>