The cuticle layer that lies directly beneath the lipid-containing epicuticle. The cortical layer contains collagens and insoluble, non-collagenous cuticulins and is characterized by a distinct annular pattern consisting of regularly spaced annular ridges delineated by annular furrows. An example of this component is found in Caenorhabditis elegans.
cortical layer of collagen and cuticulin-based cuticle extracellular matrix