skin
the skin is made up of two major tissue layers. the dermis is a layer of dense connective tissue, and the epidermis is a layer of epithelial tissue that rests on the dermis. the thickness of the dermis and epidermis varies depending on location, but on the average, the dermis 10 to 20 times thicker than the epidermis and is responsible for most of the structural strength of skin. the epidermis prevents water loss and resists abrasion. if the hypodermis is the foundation on which the house rests, the dermis forms most of the house, and the epidermis is its root.