What is true of the stratum corneum?

The stratum corneum is indeed the outermost layer of the skin. This layer acts as the primary barrier between the body and the external environment. It consists of dead, flattened skin cells that are continuously shed and replaced, serving a crucial role in protecting underlying layers from environmental damage, pathogens, and moisture loss.

Beyond serving as a protective barrier, the stratum corneum also assists in maintaining skin hydration and plays a part in regulating the body’s moisture balance. The keratinocytes in this layer contain keratin, a protein that enhances the skin's strength and resilience.

In contrast, the innermost layer of the skin is the stratum basale, which contains living cells responsible for producing new skin cells. Oil production is primarily associated with the sebaceous glands, located in the dermis layer, not in the stratum corneum. Similarly, the living cells are predominantly found in the deeper layers of the skin, such as the stratum basale and stratum spinosum, rather than in the stratum corneum, where the cells are mostly non-living.