The epidermis is the outer (epi in Greek meaning "over" or "upon") of the two

layers that make up the skin (or cutis), the inner layer being the dermis.[1] It
provides a barrier to infection from environmental pathogens[2] and regulates the
amount of water released from the body into the atmosphere through
transepidermal water loss (TEWL).[3] The outermost part of the epidermis is
composed of stratified layers of flattened cells,[4] that overlies a basal layer (stratum
basale) composed of columnar cells arranged perpendicularly.