As shown If you zoom on the cells at the outermost layer of this section of skin, what do you notice about the cells? Transcribed Image Text: The cells in

As shown If you zoom on the cells at the outermost layer of this section of skin, what do you notice about the cells? Transcribed Image Text: The cells in all of the layers except the stratum basale are called keratinocytes. A keratinocyte is a cell that manufactures
and stores the protein keratin. Keratin is an intracellular fibrous protein that gives hair, nails, and skin their hardness and
water-resistant properties. The keratinocytes in the stratum comeum are dead and regularly slough away, being replaced by
cells from the deeper layers (Figure 5.4).
Figure 5.4 Epidermis The epidermis is epithelium composed of multiple layers of cells. The basal layer consists of
cuboidal cells, whereas the outer layers are squamous, keratinized cells, so the whole epithelium is often described
as being keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. LM x 40. (Micrograph provided by the Regents of University of
Michigan Medical School © 2012)