Dermis

Dermis
Cross-section of human skin
Cross section of skin under the microscope
Identifiers
MeSH	A17.815.180
Code	TH H3.12.00.1.03001
Dorlands /Elsevier	Skin
TA	A16.0.00.010
FMA	70323
Anatomical terminology []

Dermal papillae
Papilla of the hand, treated with acetic acid. Magnified 350 times. A. Side view of a papilla of the hand. a. Cortical layer. b. Tactile corpuscle. c. Small nerve of the papilla, with neurolemma. d. Its two nervous fibers running in spiral coils around the tactile corpuscle. e. Apparent termination of one of these fibers. B. Tactile papilla seen from above so as to show its transverse section. a. Cortical layer. b. Nerve fiber. c. Outer layer of the tactile body, with nuclei. d. Clear interior substance.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	papillae dermis
Dorlands /Elsevier	p_03/12610332
TA	A16.0.00.010
FMA	70323
Anatomical terminology []

The dermis or corium is a layer of skin between the epidermis (with which it makes up the cutis) and subcutaneous tissues, that primarily consists of dense irregular connective tissue 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 basement membrane. Structural components of the dermis are collagen, elastic fibers, and extrafibrillar matrix. It also contains mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and thermoreceptors that provide the sense of heat. In addition, hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, apocrine glands, lymphatic vessels and blood vessels are present in the dermis. Those blood vessels provide nourishment and waste removal for both dermal and epidermal cells.

The dermis is composed of three major types of cells:fibroblasts, macrophages, and adipocytes.

Apart from these cells, the dermis is also composed of matrix components such as collagen (which provides strength), elastin (which provides elasticity), and extrafibrillar matrix, an extracellular gel-like substance primarily composed of glycosaminoglycans (most notably hyaluronan), proteoglycans, and glycoproteins.