Structurally, what is the difference between the dermis and epidermis?

A. The epidermis is thicker.
B. The dermis contains more types of tissue.
C. The dermis is mostly of dead skin cells.
D. The epidermis consists of mostly adipose cells.
I'm thinking b or c.

Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "dermis epidermis" to get these possible sources:

http://dermatology.about.com/cs/skinanatomy/a/anatomy.htm
http://1stholistic.com/Beauty/skin/skin_parts-of-the-skin.htm
http://www.scienceclarified.com/He-In/Integumentary-System.html

In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search. Also see http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/.

I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.

The correct answer is B. The dermis contains more types of tissue.

The dermis is the middle layer of the skin and is made up of various types of tissue, including connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands. These different tissues work together to provide structure, support, and nourishment to the skin.

On the other hand, the epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and is primarily made up of epithelial cells. It serves as a protective barrier against the external environment and helps regulate the loss of water, electrolytes, and other substances from the body.

Option C is incorrect because the dermis is not mostly composed of dead skin cells. Option A and D are also incorrect because the thickness of the epidermis and the presence of adipose cells are not the distinguishing structural differences between the dermis and epidermis.

To determine the structural difference between the dermis and epidermis, we need some knowledge about the layers that make up the skin. Here's a breakdown that will help you find the correct answer:

1. Epidermis: This is the outermost layer of the skin. It is responsible for protecting the body from the external environment. The epidermis is composed of multiple layers of cells, with the topmost layer being made up of dead skin cells that constantly shed and are replaced by new cells below. These dead skin cells, called squamous cells, provide a barrier against water loss and infection.

2. Dermis: The dermis lies beneath the epidermis and is the thickest layer of the skin. It is a complex layer consisting of various types of tissues, including connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and sweat glands. The dermis provides structural support, strength, and elasticity to the skin.

Given this information, we can rule out options A (the epidermis is thicker) and D (the epidermis consists of mostly adipose cells). Now let's evaluate the remaining options:

B. The dermis contains more types of tissue: This statement is true. The dermis is a multi-layered structure that contains an array of different tissues, as mentioned earlier. Therefore, option B is correct.

C. The dermis is mostly dead skin cells: This statement is incorrect. While the epidermis does contain dead skin cells, the dermis contains a diverse range of tissues, as mentioned above. Therefore, option C is incorrect.

Hence, the correct answer is B. The dermis contains more types of tissue.