Final answer:
Adipocytes, which are fat cells, are not present in the epidermis; they are found in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis contains keratinocytes, basal cells, melanocytes, Langerhans cells, and Merkel cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of cell or cellular structure that is not found in the epidermis is adipocytes. The epidermis is composed of distinct cell types such as:
- Keratinocytes, which make up about 90 percent of epidermal cells and are found in all layers except for the stratum basale.
- Basal cells, which are found in the stratum basale and give rise to new keratinocytes.
- Melanocytes, which are present in the stratum basale and produce melanin that protects the dermis from UV light.
- Langerhans cells, which are immune cells mainly located in the stratum spinosum and combat pathogens entering the skin.
- Merkel cells, which constitute less than 1 percent of epidermal cells and respond to light touch.
On the other hand, adipocytes are fat cells that are found in the dermis or subcutaneous tissue, not the epidermis, hence they are not part of the epidermal cell types.