Laser Technician IBEC Board Exam 2026 - Free International Board of Electrologist Certification Practice Questions.

The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis and is primarily composed of dead, flattened keratinocytes that have undergone a process called keratinization. This layer serves as a protective barrier for the underlying layers of the skin.

The cells in the stratum corneum are indeed keratinized, meaning they have accumulated keratin, a tough, fibrous protein that enhances the strength and waterproof nature of the skin. Additionally, these cells are continuously shed and replaced; this process is part of the skin's natural renewal cycle. As the cells are pushed up from the lower layers of the epidermis, they eventually die, lose their nuclei, and become part of the stratum corneum. This continual shedding is crucial for maintaining skin health and function.

In contrast to the correct choice, the characteristics of actively dividing cells, containing nerve endings, or producing melanin do not describe the cells in the stratum corneum. The cells are not living and therefore do not actively divide; they lack nerve endings since the nerve endings are found in deeper layers of the skin; and melanin production occurs in melanocytes, which are located in the basal layer of the epidermis, not in the stratum cor