Our skin is the largest organ of our body and vital. The dermis is one of the skin layers of our body, located between the hypodermis and epidermis. In technical language, it is called dermis or corium. The name dermis was derived from the fact that leather can be made from this layer of skin when it is tanned. It performs many important functions in our body.
What is the dermis?
Every vertebrate has a dermis in its skin layers. Located between the hypodermis and epidermis, it is firmly attached to the epidermis and supplies it with nutrients. Its fibers of connective tissue consist mainly of collagen and are therefore very tear-resistant but at the same time extremely elastic. This structure results in a high deformability of the dermis, which is why animals like to use the dermis to make clothes, for example. The dermis is also responsible for nourishing the epidermis, since the epidermis itself has no blood vessels. It contains most of the hair roots, along with sebaceous and sweat glands, as well as sensory receptors and the sense of touch. Blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, as well as important cells for immune defense, are also located in the dermis. The smooth muscles in the dermis are primarily responsible for regulating body temperature.
Anatomy and structure
Our skin is composed of several layers, one of which is the dermis. This in turn itself also consists of two layers, the so-called papillary layer (papillary layer) and reticular layer. The papillary layer is firmly connected to the epidermis by the so-called papillae, which is the reason for the high tensile strength of our skin. The papillae contain small blood vessels that supply the epidermis with the necessary nutrients. The papillae are also significantly responsible for the temperature regulation of the body. Furthermore, the papillae layer also contains our sense of touch, the sensation of heat and cold, as well as a number of different cells. The reticular layer gets its name from the fact that it consists of dense collagen fibers that are connected to each other like a net. In interaction with the papillary layer, this results in our elastic skin, which is very important for our body.
Function and tasks
Schematic diagram showing the anatomy and structure of the skin. Dry skin can be treated by moisturizing creams or masks and packs. Click to enlarge. The dermis performs several different tasks in our body. In general, one very important task is to guarantee the very stable, tear-resistant and enormously elastic skin. These properties represent an important protection for our skin and thus for the entire body. The structure of the dermis, consisting of the papillary layer and the reticular layer and its direct connection to the epidermis, ensures the stability and other properties of our skin. Another important task is the regulation of body temperature. This takes place via the papillae in the papillary layer of the dermis. When it is hot, they expand and release heat; when it is cold, they contract and thus store the body temperature. In this way, the body temperature is always balanced. In hot weather, the sweat glands are also activated to cool the body. If this balancing of the temperature would not take place, it could come in our body much faster to overheating or hypothermia. The dermis is also responsible for supplying the epidermis. Since the epidermis itself is not supplied with blood, it receives all nutrients from the dermis. This is made possible by the connections between the epidermis and the papillae of the dermis. In addition, the dermis is an important part of our body’s immune system. It is instrumental in our body’s defense reactions against various pathogens, making it important in fighting and defending against disease.
Diseases and ailments
The sclera can naturally be affected by various diseases or bring other problems. There are various visible changes in the sclera, which are usually caused by a disease. These are usually discoloration of the sclera. In vitreous bone disease, for example, the dermis appears bluish-transparent, but iron deposits due to disease may also be visible in the dermis. Natural aging of the skin is also often visible in the dermis.If the thickness of the dermis decreases in the course of life, black-blue spots can form there, which are almost rectangular. Lipid deposits are also frequently observed. In addition, there are also autoimmune diseases that show up in the sclera. Discoloration, dry skin, itching and induration may occur. The dermis is also very often affected by bacterial infections of the skin. If this is the case, scarring of open skin areas is very likely. If only the epidermis is affected, wounds usually heal without scarring.
