Final answer:
The stratum lucidum, filled with eleidin, is absent in thin skin and is only found in thick skin such as the palms and soles. It provides a barrier to water and is located between the stratum corneum and stratum granulosum.
Step-by-step explanation:
The layer that is absent in thin skin and is characterized by cells filled with a gel-like substance called eleidin is the stratum lucidum. Thin skin, which covers most of the body, is made up of four layers: the stratum basale, the stratum spinosum, the stratum granulosum, and the stratum corneum.
However, the stratum lucidum is a layer only found in thick skin, such as on the palms and soles of the feet. It is located between the stratum corneum and the stratum granulosum, and it is composed of dead keratinocytes that are densely packed with eleidin, providing a barrier to water and giving the layer a translucent appearance.