Which skin layer contains hair follicles, sweat glands, and nerves?

• A. Epidermis
• B. Dermis
• C. Hypodermis
• D. Stratum corneum

Answer: (B)

The dermis is the layer that contains hair follicles, sweat glands, and nerves. It lies beneath the outer epidermis and provides the skin’s structural strength with collagen and elastic fibers. Hair follicles extend from the epidermis into the dermis, and the associated sebaceous glands sit within the dermal layer as well. Sweat glands are coiled structures located in the dermis, sending their ducts up to the skin surface. Nerve endings, including those for touch and pain, are abundant in the dermis, giving the skin its sensory capabilities. In contrast, the epidermis is the thin, outer protective layer composed mainly of keratinocytes and lacks nerves; the hypodermis (subcutaneous layer) is primarily fat and connective tissue and does not house these structures.