Where are blood vessels found in the skin?

• A. Epidermis
• B. Dermis only
• C. Dermis and subcutaneous
• D. Hair shaft

Answer: (C)

Blood vessels are located in the deeper layers of the skin, not in the outermost surface. The epidermis has no blood vessels; it relies on diffusion from vessels in the underlying dermis for nutrients and oxygen. The dermis houses a rich network of capillaries that nourish the skin and hair follicles, and the subcutaneous (hypodermis) layer contains larger blood vessels that supply the deeper tissues and connect to the dermal circulation. So, vessels are found in both the dermis and the subcutaneous layer. The hair shaft itself isn’t vascularized, so locating vessels there wouldn’t be correct.