What does dermis mean?
The dermis is the thick, inner layer of the skin, lying beneath the thin outer epidermis. Often called the 'true skin,' it is a dense matrix of connective tissue supplied with blood vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles, sweat glands, and the collagen and elastin fibres that give skin its strength, flexibility, and resilience. Anatomists divide it into two regions: the superficial papillary dermis, which interlocks with the epidermis above, and the deeper reticular dermis, which provides most of the skin's structural support. Because it houses sensory receptors and regulates temperature through its blood supply and sweat glands, the dermis is central to touch, sensation, and heat control. It matters practically too: burns, wounds, and cosmetic procedures are classified by how deeply they penetrate this layer, since damage reaching the dermis affects healing, scarring, and permanence.
nounThe dense layer of living tissue beneath the epidermis that forms the true skin, containing blood vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles, and sweat glands.
- The thick layer of living tissue beneath the epidermis forming the true skin, containing blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and sweat glands.
"The tattoo needle deposits ink into the dermis, where it remains permanently."
"Collagen fibres in the dermis give the skin its strength and elasticity."
"Second-degree burns are those that damage the dermis rather than just the epidermis."
The plural is rare; the word typically appears in the singular or in generic use when discussing the skin layer.
"The study compared collagen density in the dermises of young and aged skin samples."
Every tattoo you've ever seen lives in the dermis — the immune system tries to clear the ink, but the pigment particles are too big for it to remove, which is why tattoos last a lifetime.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dermis
The word dermis comes from New Latin, formed from the Greek derma (δέρμα), meaning 'skin' or 'hide.' It was coined in modern scientific Latin alongside related terms such as epidermis, which combines the same root with the Greek prefix epi-, 'upon.' This Greek root also gives English dermatology, hypodermic, and taxidermy, all sharing the sense of skin. The term entered general scientific English usage around the early nineteenth century as anatomical terminology became standardized.
How dermis is actually used
A technical term used chiefly in anatomy, dermatology, and medicine; in everyday speech people simply say 'skin.' The plural 'dermises' exists but is rare, as the word usually appears in singular or generic use. Adjective forms such as 'dermal' and 'subdermal' derive from the same Greek root.
Easily confused with dermis
The epidermis is the thin, protective outermost layer of skin, while the dermis is the thicker layer of living tissue lying directly beneath it.