rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryepidermisOuter protective layer
noun

epidermis

ep-ih-DER-mis/ˌepɪˈdɜːrmɪs/

The outermost protective layer of a living organism.

The skin section shows the epidermis above a narrow strip of deeper tissue.

A tightly cropped microscopic side section of skin, dominated by the epidermis itself: stacked living cells beneath a fine surface of flattened cells, with only a narrow supporting strip of dermis below.
Etymology
epiGreekon, upon
+dermisGreekskin

The combination of 'on' and 'skin' identifies the skin's outer covering. The Greek ancestor already meant 'outer skin,' so the modern anatomical meaning preserves that spatial image.

In context

RegisteredNurseRN1:52
this is like a scrape on that top layer of skin the epidermis and it's usually caused by friction
Types of Wounds Nursing NCLEX Review | Medical Terminology Skin Wound Types

More examples

  • The leaf’s epidermis protects its surface.
  • The sample included only the epidermis.
  • The diagram separates the epidermis from deeper tissues.

Forms

epidermis · epidermises

Similar words

dermis
The dermis lies beneath the epidermis in human skin.
cuticle
Cuticle can name an outer protective covering; epidermis identifies a particular outer cellular layer.