The human skin consists of three main layers: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis (also known as subcutaneous tissue). Each of these main layers contains sublayers, with the epidermis itself having five distinct layers:
- Epidermis (outermost layer) – composed of five sublayers:
- Stratum corneum
- Stratum lucidum (only in thicker skin like palms and soles)
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum basale (also called stratum germinativum)
- Dermis – beneath the epidermis; contains connective tissue, hair follicles, sweat glands, blood vessels, and nerves.
- Hypodermis (subcutaneous layer) – the deepest layer, consisting mainly of fat and connective tissue, helping with insulation and cushioning.
So, in total, there are 3 main layers of skin, with 7 important layers when considering the sublayers of the epidermis and the main parts of the dermis (papillary and reticular layers) as well. The typical way to count is 3 main layers and 5 layers in the epidermis specifically.
