SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE , 269 



of the body they are less numerous and are often less regularly disposed. 



The papillary layer consists entirely of white fibrous and elastic con- 

 nective tissues which form a supporting membrane for the finer branches 

 of the cutaneous blood-vessels and nerves. The elastic tissue supplies 

 a rich network of fine fibrils to all portions of the papillary layer, and 

 just beneath the epidermis it forms a delicate elastic membrane whose 

 fibers intermingle with the hyaline cuticular deposit of the columnar 

 epidermal cells to form a firm resistant basement membrane. Many 

 of the elastic fibers of the papillae, especially the more superficial ones, 

 pursue a peculiar archiform course from the base to the apex of the 

 conical papilla?. In this way they surround and inclose the centrally 

 situated capillaries and the tactile corpuscles of the papilla?. 



The Reticular Layer (Stratum Reticulare). The deeper portion of 

 the corium consists of interlacing bundles of connective tissue fibers 

 which form a dense meshwork. These bundles are much coarser than 

 those of the papillary layer with which they are imperceptibly blended. 

 The reticular layer contains the larger blood-vessels of the corium, many 

 small nerve trunks, the ducts and parts of the secreting portions of the 

 sweat glands, the more superficial sebaceous glands, and many of the 

 smaller hair follicles. Lamellar corpuscles and nerve end-organs of 

 Euffini are also found in this layer. 



The skin of the face contains many striated muscle fibers which are 

 derived from the insertions of the mimetic muscles. The corium of the 

 scrotum (where it forms the tunica dartos), of the penis, perineum, 

 and areola of the nipple contain much smooth muscle, intermingled 

 with which is a considerable amount of elastic tissue. 



SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE 



The subcutaneous tissue (tela subcutanea, subcutis) consists of bands 

 and septa of fibrous connective tissue which extend from the deeper 

 margin of the derma to the underlying fascia of the muscles, the peri- 

 osteum of the bones, etc. The direction of these fibrous bundles is very 

 variable. The more nearly parallel to the cutaneous surface the fiber 

 bundles are, and the looser the meshes which they form, the greater is 

 the mobility of the skin. 



The meshes of the subcutaneous network are occupied by lobules 

 of adipose tissue. When abundant the subcutis is termed panniculus 

 adiposus. The subcutaneous tissue contains the main nerve trunks and 



