Final answer:
The epidermis is the skin layer with both dead and living cells, with the dead cells forming the stratum corneum, which provides a protective barrier through a process that includes keratin production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The layer of skin that has both dead and living cells is known as the epidermis. The outermost part of the epidermis, the stratum corneum, primarily consists of dead skin cells that are keratinized. These cells provide a tough and waterproof barrier that protects the body. Beneath the stratum corneum, there are layers where living cells are continuously dividing and moving upwards to replace the dead cells shed from the surface.
This process, which includes the production of a tough, fibrous protein called keratin, ensures that newly formed cells replace the old, dead cells at the outermost surface.The epidermis is the skin layer with both dead and living cells, with the dead cells forming the stratum corneum, which provides a protective barrier through a process that includes keratin production.