Patient Care EOPA Practice Test

The outermost layer of the skin is the epidermis. It serves as the protective barrier against environmental damage, pathogens, and water loss, and is primarily made of keratinocytes that mature and move toward the surface, with the outermost portion called the stratum corneum composed of dead cells. Beneath the epidermis lies the dermis, which provides structure and houses blood vessels, nerves, glands, and hair follicles. The deepest layer, the hypodermis (also called the subcutaneous layer), is mostly fat and connective tissue that insulates and cushions. So, because the epidermis sits on the very top, it is the outer layer you’re being asked to identify.