epidermis

ep·i·der·mis   (ěp'ĭ-dûr'mĭs)    n.   The outer, protective, nonvascular layer of the skin of vertebrates, covering the dermis. An integument or outer layer of various invertebrates. The outermost layer of cells covering the leaves and young parts of a plant. [Late Latin, from Greek : epi-, epi- + derma, skin; see der- in Indo-European roots.] ep'i·der'mal (-məl), ep'i·der'mic adj.

epidermis [(ep-uh-dur-mis)]

The outside layers of the skin.

epidermis 

Main Entry: epi·der·mis
Pronunciation: -'d&r-m&s
Function: noun
1 : the outer epithelial layer of the external integument of theanimal body that is derived from the embryonic epiblast; specifically : the outer nonsensitive and nonvascular layer of the skin of a vertebrate that overlies the dermis
2 : any of various animal integuments

epidermis ep·i·der·mis (ěp'ĭ-dûr'mĭs)
n.
The nonvascular outer protective layer of the skin, covering the dermis.

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ep'i·der'mal (-məl) or ep'i·der'mic adj.

epidermis

in zoology, protective outermost portion of the skin. There are two layers of epidermis, the living basal layer, which is next to the dermis, and the external stratum corneum, or horny layer, which is composed of dead, keratin-filled cells that have migrated outward from the basal layer. The melanocytes, responsible for skin colour, are found in the basal cells. The epidermis has no blood supply and depends on diffusion from the dermal cells for its metabolic needs. The dead-cell layer of the stratum corneum provides the protection from water loss that allows vertebrates to dwell on land. Keratin, produced in migrating epidermal cells, forms the basis of nails, feathers, beaks, and other epidermal derivatives. In humans, epidermal fragments are constantly shed, but the "skin," or stratum corneum, of a snake is ordinarily shed all at once in a period of ecdysis.

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