**5.1 Epidermis**

It consists of a layer of stratified squamous epithelium that is in continuous renewal. It presents different cell types: keratinocytes (95%), melanocytes, Langerhans cells (immune function), and Merkel cells (transmitters of mechanical stimuli). The epidermis is an avascular layer.

### **Figure 2.**

*Anatomy of the epidermis. Image taken from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:502\_Layers\_of\_ epidermis.jpg#filehistory OpenStax college: J. Gordon Betts, Peter Desaix, Eddie Johnson., CC BY 3.0 <https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia commons.*

The keratinocyte moves from the basal membrane to the surface of the skin, forming different epidermal layers with different morphologies: basal or germinative stratum, lucidum stratum, spinosum stratum, granular stratum, and corneum stratum. Among other functions, epidermis prevents moisture loss from the skin (**Figure 2**) [8].
