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There is little dermis and the hypodermis is composed of collagenous and elastic fibres mixed with adipose tissue to form a digital cushion that provides protection from mechanical impact.
There is little dermis and the hypodermis is composed of collagenous and elastic fibres mixed with adipose tissue to form a digital cushion that provides protection from mechanical impact.
===The Nose===
The covering of the nose is very thickened with rete ridges providing anchoring. The surface has a cobblestone appearance in dogs and cats. Hair and sebaceous glands are absent, atrichial glands are present.
===Claws===
Claws have a variety of functions including locomotion, climbing, fighting and hunting. They are composed of a coronary band, lateral compressed walls and a flaky ventral sole. The hard keratinised epidermis is formed from the nail matrix that is an extension of the hirsute skin, with an underlying vascular dermis.
Cats can unsheath their claws by muscle action and retract them with an elastic ligament on the dorsal aspect of the middle and distal phalanges.
Depending on the pigmentation of the claw, the dermis may or may not be visible. Care must be taken when clipping claws to avoid laceration of the 'quick' and subsequent haemorrhage.
The claws of the accessory first digits on the medial aspect of the foot of dogs is often termed the '''dew claw'''.
==Immunology==
==Immunology==
==Histology==
==Histology==