Cross-section of thick skin, the type of skin found on the fingertips, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. This area of skin is smooth, hairless and patterned with whorls, loops, and/or arches. The thick uppermost portion, the epidermis is composed of several layers of keratinized epithelial cells. Just below the epidermis, the dermis is composed mainly of connective tissue over subcutaneous fat (yellow). Sweat gland coils (white) located in the subcutaneous fat travel through the layers to empty at the surface of the skin.