In hairless skin, this layer contains Merkel's discs. The former layer is composed of connective tissue containing collagenous and elastic fibers. It is thickest over the palms and soles and on the dorsal and lateral body aspects. Its surface area is greatly increased by the presence of dermal papillae. These papilla project into the epidermis and may have capillary loops in them.
Some papilla contain Meissner's corpuscles.
The dermal papillae cause fingerprints and toeprints. The latter layer of the dermis is the reticular layer. This layer contains numerous imbedded blood vessels, nerves, glands and hair follicles. It is thinnest over the eyelids, penis, scrotum, and the ventral and medial body surfaces. The interfiber spaces contain small quantities of fat, hair follicles, nerves, oil glands and ducts of sweat glands.