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GuideWisdom™

This WisdomCard managed by: Kricel Abreu

Epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin. It forms the waterproof, protective wrap over the body's surface and is made up of stratified squamous epithelium with an underlying basal lamina. ...read more at Wikipedia

Fast Facts:

• -- Outermost layer and consists of 25 to 30 layers of dead cells.¹
• -- Three main cell types: keratinocytes (skin cells), melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) and Langerhan's cells (immune cells).²
• -- Most of the cells in the epidermis are keratinocytes; outermost portion consists of stratum corneum.³
• -- Epidermis layers: stratum germinativum, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum and stratum corneum.⁴
• -- Acts as a physical barrier to prevent water loss; prevents substances and organisms from entering.²

Top Resources on Epidermis

• Cleveland Clinic: An Overview Of Your Skin
• Merck Manual: Biology Of The Skin - Structure And Function
• HealthCommunities.com (via Dermatology Channel): Skin Anatomy
• DermNet NZ: The Structure Of Normal Skin
• MedicineNet: Definition Of Epidermis
• WrongDiagnosis: Introduction: Skin Disorders
• UpToDate: Dermatitis
• eMedicine: Skin Resurfacing, Dermabrasion
• YouTube: The Human Skin Animation Video

Related WisdomCards

• Dermis
• Subcutaneous Tissue
• Dermatitis
• Skin Cancer
• Eczema
• Skin Allergies
• Acne
• Dry Skin

GuideWisdom and Fast Facts References

1. ↑ Wikipedia: Epidermis (Skin)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} DermNet NZ: The Structure Of Normal Skin
3. ↑ Merck Manual: Biology Of The Skin - Structure And Function
4. ↑ Cleveland Clinic: An Overview Of Your Skin

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