The Anatomy of the Skin

Although it measures only 6 millimeters thick on the soles of the feet and a mere 0.5 millimeter on the eyelids, the skin is well equipped to perform its many functions. The average square inch of skin contains some 600 sweat glands, 100 fat glands, 100 oil glands, 65 hairs, 20 blood vessels, and thousands of nerve endings. These structures are contained within the three layers of the skinthe epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous tissue.