What are the three layers of skin?

What are the three layers of skin?

• A. Epidermis, Dermis, Subcutaneous
• B. Epidermis, Dermis, Muscle
• C. Dermis, Subcutaneous, Bone
• D. Epidermis, Muscle, Bone

Answer: (A)

Three layers make up the skin: epidermis, dermis, and the subcutaneous layer (hypodermis). The epidermis is the thin outer barrier that protects against injury and dehydration and continually renews itself. Beneath it, the dermis provides strength and elasticity with collagen and elastin fibers and houses blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and glands. The deepest layer, the subcutaneous tissue, is mainly fat and connective tissue that cushions, insulates, and helps anchor the skin to underlying structures. This arrangement matters for practical reasons like tattooing, where pigment is placed in the dermis rather than the epidermis because the epidermis sheds and would lose pigment over time. Structures like muscle or bone lie deeper than these skin layers and are not considered layers of the skin itself.

Three layers make up the skin: epidermis, dermis, and the subcutaneous layer (hypodermis). The epidermis is the thin outer barrier that protects against injury and dehydration and continually renews itself. Beneath it, the dermis provides strength and elasticity with collagen and elastin fibers and houses blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and glands. The deepest layer, the subcutaneous tissue, is mainly fat and connective tissue that cushions, insulates, and helps anchor the skin to underlying structures. This arrangement matters for practical reasons like tattooing, where pigment is placed in the dermis rather than the epidermis because the epidermis sheds and would lose pigment over time. Structures like muscle or bone lie deeper than these skin layers and are not considered layers of the skin itself.