Thursday, February 5, 2009

Term of the Day


Papillary Dermis: Thin, superficial layer of the dermis composed of loose connective tissue and thrown into nipple-like projections called dermal papillae, which interdigitate with the overlying epidermis. The papillae contain capillaries, free nerve endings (which act as pain receptors) and Meissner's corpuscles (which act as touch receptors). On the palms and soles, the papillae lie on top of larger mounds called dermal ridges which, in turn, produce corresponding epidermal ridges. The latter give us our fingerprints.

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