Skin layers. Coloured light micrograph of a section through penis skin. The top layer (purple) is the epidermis, which is composed of the upper stratum corneum layer (dead skin layer, not seen) and the living stratum germinativum layer of skin below (purple). These two upper layers form thin layers over the thicker dermis, a layer of fibrous connective tissue that supports and nourishes the epidermis (pale brown). A large sebaceous gland (oil-producing gland) can also be seen (pink, centre right).