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The dermis is the middle layer of skin, sandwiched between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissue. It is composed of collagen, elastic tissue, vasculature, nerve endings, hair follicles, and glands. The dermis is responsible for supporting and protecting the skin and deeper layers, assisting in thermoregulation, and aiding in sensation. Smooth muscle is present in multiple sites in mammalian skin, including the walls of small vessels and the arrector pili muscle, which is connected to each hair follicle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of layers | 2 |
| Position among skin layers | Middle layer |
| Functions | Supports and protects the skin and deeper layers, assists in thermoregulation, and aids in sensation |
| Components | Collagen, elastic tissue, vasculature, nerve endings, hair follicles, glands, fibroblasts, histiocytes, mast cells, and adipocytes |
| Sub-layers | Papillary dermis (top layer) and reticular dermis (bottom layer) |
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What You'll Learn
The dermis is the middle layer of skin
The dermis has two layers of its own: the papillary dermis and the reticular dermis. The papillary dermis is the top layer of the dermis and is much thinner than the reticular dermis. It consists of collagen fibres, fibroblast cells, fat cells, blood vessels (capillary loops), nerve fibres, touch receptors, and cells that fight bacteria. The reticular layer is the deep layer, forming a thick layer of dense connective tissue that makes up the bulk of the dermis.
The dermis has many functions, including protecting the body from harm, supporting the epidermis, feeling different sensations, and producing sweat and hair. It is the thickest layer of skin and gives the skin its toughness. It also provides structural protection for underlying skeletal muscles and organs.
The dermis contains many cell types, including fibroblasts, histiocytes, mast cells, and adipocytes. Fibroblasts are the primary cells within the dermis and handle the synthesis of collagen, elastic and reticular fibres, and extracellular matrix material. Histiocytes are tissue macrophages that assist the immune system, while mast cells are inflammatory cells that play an important role in inflammatory reactions, collagen remodelling, and wound healing. Dermal adipocytes provide insulation and energy storage and assist in hair follicle regeneration and wound healing.
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It consists of two layers: papillary and reticular
The dermis is the middle layer of skin in the body, sandwiched between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissue. It is a fibrous structure composed of collagen, elastic tissue, and other extracellular components, including vasculature, nerve endings, hair follicles, and glands. The dermis has two layers: the papillary dermis and the reticular dermis.
The papillary dermis is the top layer of the dermis and is much thinner than the reticular dermis. It is composed of collagen fibres, fibroblast cells, fat cells, blood vessels (capillary loops), nerve fibres, touch receptors (Meissner corpuscles), and cells that fight bacteria (phagocytes). The papillary dermis extends to the basement layer of the epidermis, forming a strong bond with it.
The reticular dermis is the deep layer, forming a thick layer of dense connective tissue that constitutes the bulk of the dermis. It is composed of thick elastic fibres and collagen, specifically type I and type III collagen. The reticular dermis provides structural stability to protect underlying organs.
The dermis is highly vascularized, with a rich papillary network and a deep dermal network. This system is essential for thermoregulation, allowing the body to dissipate heat through flushing and conserving heat in response to hypothermia. The dermis also provides structural protection for underlying skeletal muscles and organs.
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It contains hair follicles and arrector pili muscles
The dermis is the middle layer of skin in the human body. It is located between the epidermis and the hypodermis. The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin, which protects the body from damage and makes melanin, providing skin colour. The dermis supports the epidermis and has various functions, including producing sweat and hair, protecting the body from harm, and feeling different sensations.
The dermis contains hair follicles and arrector pili muscles. Hair follicles are tube-shaped sheaths that surround the part of the hair that is under the skin and nourish the hair. They are located in the dermis and the epidermis. The arrector pili muscles, also known as hair erector muscles, are small muscles attached to hair follicles in mammals. Each arrector pili muscle is composed of a bundle of smooth muscle fibres that attach to several hair follicles. The arrector pili muscles are innervated by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.
The contraction of the arrector pili muscles causes the hairs to stand on end, known colloquially as goosebumps (piloerection). This contraction is involuntary and can be stimulated by stress, such as cold temperatures or fear. The principal function of the arrector pili muscles in mammals is to provide thermal insulation. When the hairs stand on end, air becomes trapped between them, helping the body retain heat.
In some body areas, a sebaceous gland (oil gland) and an apocrine gland (scent gland) attach above the arrector pili muscle and open into the follicle. The point at which the arrector pili muscle attaches is known as the hair "bulge", where new matrix cells are formed and the hair growth cycle is initiated. Skin conditions such as leprosy can damage arrector pili muscles, preventing their contraction.
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It is made of collagen, elastic tissue, and other components
The dermis is the middle layer of skin, sandwiched between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissue. It is a fibrous structure composed of collagen, elastic tissue, and other components. Collagen is the principal component of the dermis, with type I and type III collagen found in abundance. The collagen fibres provide strength and flexibility to the skin, allowing it to move and stretch.
Elastic fibres also play a crucial structural role in the dermis. Composed of elastin and fibrillin microfibrils, these fibres enable the skin's gliding, stretching, and recoiling capabilities. The reticular dermis, the bottom layer of the dermis, contains thick elastic fibres. These fibres, along with collagen fibres, surround and support the reticular dermis, contributing to the skin's overall structure and movement.
Fibroblasts are the primary cells within the dermis, responsible for the synthesis of collagen, elastic and reticular fibres, and extracellular matrix material. Other important cell types include histiocytes, which are tissue macrophages that assist the immune system, and mast cells, which are inflammatory cells involved in inflammatory reactions, collagen remodelling, and wound healing.
The dermis also contains vasculature, nerve endings, sweat glands, oil glands, and hair follicles. These components work together to support and protect the skin, assist in thermoregulation, and aid in sensation. The dermis has two layers: the papillary dermis and the reticular dermis. The papillary dermis is the superficial layer, lying beneath the epidermis, while the reticular dermis forms the deeper, thicker layer that constitutes the bulk of the dermis.
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It has many functions, including protection and sensation
The dermis is the middle layer of skin, sandwiched between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissue. It is a fibrous structure composed of collagen, elastic tissue, and other extracellular components that include vasculature, nerve endings, hair follicles, and glands.
The dermis has many functions, including protection and sensation. The dermis supports and protects the skin and deeper layers, providing structural protection for underlying skeletal muscles and organs. It assists in thermoregulation, helping to regulate body temperature. It also aids in sensation, with nerves in the skin helping us to feel sensations like hot and cold, as well as touch (tactile) sensations.
The dermis is divided into two layers: the papillary dermis and the reticular dermis. The papillary dermis is the top layer and is much thinner than the reticular dermis. It consists of collagen fibres, fibroblast cells, fat cells, blood vessels (capillary loops), nerve fibres, touch receptors (Meissner corpuscles), and cells that fight bacteria (phagocytes). The reticular layer is the deep layer, forming a thick layer of dense connective tissue that constitutes the bulk of the dermis.
The dermis contains many cell types, including fibroblasts, histiocytes, mast cells, and adipocytes, all of which play important roles in maintaining the normal structure and function of the dermis. Smooth muscle is also present in multiple sites in mammalian skin, including the walls of small vessels and the arrector pili muscle, a tiny muscle connected to each hair follicle and the skin.
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Frequently asked questions
The dermis is the middle layer of skin in the body. It has two layers of its own: the papillary dermis and the reticular dermis.
The dermis supports and protects the skin and deeper layers, assists in thermoregulation, and aids in sensation. It also provides structural protection for underlying skeletal muscles and organs.
The dermis contains fibroblasts, histiocytes, mast cells, and adipocytes. It also contains collagen, elastic tissue, vasculature, nerve endings, hair follicles, and glands.
