Final answer:
Tactile cells, or Merkel cells, enable the body to sense touch and are located in the stratum basale of the epidermis. Langerhans cells are the immune cells that combat bacteria entering a wound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cells that allow the body to sense touch are known as tactile cells or Merkel cells. These cells are located in the stratum basale of the epidermis and are connected to nerve endings that transmit the sense of touch to the brain. Tactile cells are especially abundant on the surfaces of the hands and feet and respond to light touch, discerning shapes and textures. Merkel cells are less than 1 percent of epidermal cells but play a critical role in our sense of touch.
If you cut yourself and bacteria enter the wound, the cells that would help get rid of the bacteria are Langerhans cells. These immune system cells are about 1 percent of epidermal cells and are responsible for detecting and fighting pathogens entering the skin.