Question

How does the epidermis grow, shed or rebuild?

Answer 1

Hint: Epidermis is defined as the upper, thin layer of the skin. They replace themselves by shedding off at a regular interval of the time. It is considered as the outermost layer of the skin. The skin is divided into two layers called the epidermis and dermis.

Complete answer:
The epidermis is considered as the outermost layer of the skin. The epidermis follows the dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis layer protects the skin from environmental stresses and infections. The epidermis layer is a layer of epithelium, mostly the stratified squamous epithelium. The epidermis consists of langerhan cells, melanocytes, inflammatory cells. The blood supply is by the blood capillaries which is present below the epidermis. The epidermis is responsible for the formation of the columnar layer in the base layer. After the formation of the cells, those are pushed upwards and the cells take a cuboid shape as they move upwards. As the process continues further, mpre keratinocytes are produced. The cells are pushed upwards until there is little depth below them and are flattened. Shedding of the epidermis is known as desquamation. Desquamation occurs due to the formation of the new cells which are further pushed upwards to replace the old cells. The formation process takes place for 14 days from the appearance of the young keratinocytes to the dead corneocyte on the top layer of the epidermal skin.

Note :
The layers next to epidermis are dermis and hypodermis.The epithelium consists of squamous epithelium, columnar epithelium, cuboidal epithelium, ciliated epithelium. Epithelial cells are considered as connective tissues.