330 INTEGtJMENtS. 



SECT. I. OF THE CUTIS VERA. 



The True Skin (cutis vera, derma, corion,) is the deepest, of 

 the layer next to the cellular substance. Its thickness varies 

 according to age, sex, and the region of the body over which it 

 is stretched; on the trunk it is thicker behind than it is in front; 

 on the limbs, thicker on their external than on their internal 

 faces or semi-circumferences. On the mammae, the penis, scro- 

 tum, and external ear, its tenuity is remarkable. When unin- 

 jected, it is perfectly white in people of all complexions, and in 

 the living state has a semi-transparency that permits the blood 

 of the veins to be seen beneath it. 



The internal surface of the true skin is so blended with the 

 cellular substance, that in the recent subject there is a difficul- 

 ty in distinguishing where one terminates and the other begins, 

 yet they may be separated by maceration so as to determine 

 this line ; mortification of the cellular substance sometimes does 

 the same thing; and in the ham, cured by salting and smoking, 

 the true skin, after boiling, may be stripped off with but little 

 difficulty. In either of these cases the internal surface of the 

 latter is seen to be studded with small areolar depressions, 

 caused by the projection of granulated masses of adeps; the 

 margins of those alveoli are the principal points of adhesion 

 to the subcutaneous cellular tissue, while their bottoms are 

 pierced with small openings that lead through the skin. 



The external surface of the true skin is covered with very 

 fine papillae, or villi, (Papillce Tactus,) that are readily brought 

 within the observation of the naked eye, by maceration, when 

 protracted long enough to permit the separation of the cuticle. 

 The projections on the tongue are very similar to them, and 

 the whole are designated as the papillary body. These cuta- 

 neous papillae are particularly distinct at the bulbous ends of 

 the fingers and toe?, upon the palms and soles, on the lips, on 

 the glans penis, and the nipple; in other parts they are not so 

 evident, but still there can be no doubt of their existence, from 

 analogy. On the hands and feet they are arranged in double 

 rows or files, which occasion the semicircular and spiral turns 



