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

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

Answer: (C)

The dermis is where these structures reside. Hair follicles actually extend from the epidermis down into the dermis, and the sebaceous glands are typically attached to those follicles and sit in the dermal layer. Sweat glands, both eccrine and apocrine, are located in the dermis as well, with their ducts passing upward to the surface. Nerves run throughout the dermis, giving you sensory input from the skin. In contrast, the epidermis sits on top and is made of keratinocytes without blood vessels or glands, and the subcutaneous layer is mainly fatty tissue. So, the dermis is the layer that contains hair follicles, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and nerves.