MICHIGAN ESTHETICIAN STATE
BOARD THEORY EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What item should be used on tools and implements that have not come in contact with blood
or body fluids? - ANS Broad-Spectrum Disinfectants
What machine is used to sterilize surgical instruments with high-pressure and high-temperature
vapors? - ANS Chemiclave
Instruments can be pre-cleaned using: - ANS High-frequency energy waves
What is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) responsible for? -
ANS Enforces safety and health standards in the workplace
Which department is OSHA under? - ANS Department of Labor
What do Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provide information on? - ANS Specific product
ingredients, hazards, combustion levels, and storage requirements
What is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responsible for? - ANS Approving the
efficacy of products and verifying effectiveness of products against organisms listed on the
labels
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,Which infection control equipment utilizes UV light to kill bacteria in a dry setting? - ANS UV
Light Sterilizer
Can a UV light sterilizer kill all bacterial spores? - ANS No, it cannot be relied upon to do that
Which infection control equipment uses pressure, heat, and/or pressurized steam? -
ANS Autoclave
Which infection control equipment high-pressure, high-temperature water, alcohol, and
formaldehyde vapors? - ANS Chemiclave
What are the five layer of the epidermis (top to bottom)? - ANS 1. Stratum Corneum
2. Stratum Lucidum
3. Stratum Granulosum
4. Stratum Spinosum
5. Stratum Germinativum
[C.L.G(r).S.G: Clean Ladies G(r)eet Sailors Gorgeously]
What is another name for the dermis? - ANS True skin
Which types of cells are found in the stratum corneum? - ANS Keratinocytes and squamous
cells
What are keratinocytes tightly interconnected by on the skin's surface? - ANS Desmosomes
What is the purpose of a squamous cell in the stratum corneum? - ANS Protect lower layers
of the epidermis and the rest of the skin
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,Which layer of the epidermis acts as a barrier to moisture loss and is water-resistant? -
ANS Stratum corneum
Which layers of the epidermis are composed of dead cells? - ANS Stratum corneum, stratum
lucidum, stratum granulosum
Which layer of the epidermis is transparent? - ANS Stratum lucidum
What creates densely packed, clear keratin in the stratum lucidum? - ANS Keratinocytes
Which layer of the epidermis is where keratinization begins (and where keratin is produced)? -
ANS Stratum granulosum
What is the protein substance that forms keratin? - ANS Keratohyalin
In which layer of the epidermis does protection begin? - ANS Stratum granulosum
What makes the stratum spinosum the "spiny layer?" - ANS Desmosomes which provide
strength and support between cells
Where do langerhan cells reside and protect the body from infection (alongside T-cells)? -
ANS Stratum spinosum
Which layer of the epidermis is called the "basal layer?" - ANS Stratum germinativum as this
is where basal cells go through mitosis
What is the purpose of the hemidesmosomes in the stratum germinativum? - ANS Attach
epidermis to the dermis to form basement membrane
3 Copyright ©2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, Where are Merkel cells found? - ANS Stratum germinativum (in thick skin)
Where are melanocytes found? - ANS Stratum germinativum (in thin skin)
What cells cover and protect the inside of the body? - ANS Epithelial
What are the two layers that the dermis is divided into? - ANS Papillary Dermis and Reticular
Dermis
Which immune cells reside in the stratum spinosum and provide the first line of defense in
identifying foreign substances? - ANS Langerhans Cells
Secretion is one of the six functions of the skin. Does it refer to sebum or sweat being secreted?
- ANS Sebum which affects pH
Excretion is one of the six functions of the skin. Does it refer to sebum or sweat being excreted?
- ANS Neither. Excretion refers to toxic waste and materials excreted through SWEAT glands
and pores (i.e. CO2)
In which of the six functions of the skin is sweat involved? - ANS Regulation as sweat helps to
regulate body temperature
What are Merkel cells? - ANS Touch receptors found in the Stratum Germinativum
What are the three components of the dermis? - ANS Fibroblast Cells, Elastin, and Collagen
What is the purpose of Fibroblast Cells? - ANS Aid in the production of collagen and elastin
4 Copyright ©2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BOARD THEORY EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What item should be used on tools and implements that have not come in contact with blood
or body fluids? - ANS Broad-Spectrum Disinfectants
What machine is used to sterilize surgical instruments with high-pressure and high-temperature
vapors? - ANS Chemiclave
Instruments can be pre-cleaned using: - ANS High-frequency energy waves
What is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) responsible for? -
ANS Enforces safety and health standards in the workplace
Which department is OSHA under? - ANS Department of Labor
What do Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provide information on? - ANS Specific product
ingredients, hazards, combustion levels, and storage requirements
What is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responsible for? - ANS Approving the
efficacy of products and verifying effectiveness of products against organisms listed on the
labels
1 Copyright ©2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
,Which infection control equipment utilizes UV light to kill bacteria in a dry setting? - ANS UV
Light Sterilizer
Can a UV light sterilizer kill all bacterial spores? - ANS No, it cannot be relied upon to do that
Which infection control equipment uses pressure, heat, and/or pressurized steam? -
ANS Autoclave
Which infection control equipment high-pressure, high-temperature water, alcohol, and
formaldehyde vapors? - ANS Chemiclave
What are the five layer of the epidermis (top to bottom)? - ANS 1. Stratum Corneum
2. Stratum Lucidum
3. Stratum Granulosum
4. Stratum Spinosum
5. Stratum Germinativum
[C.L.G(r).S.G: Clean Ladies G(r)eet Sailors Gorgeously]
What is another name for the dermis? - ANS True skin
Which types of cells are found in the stratum corneum? - ANS Keratinocytes and squamous
cells
What are keratinocytes tightly interconnected by on the skin's surface? - ANS Desmosomes
What is the purpose of a squamous cell in the stratum corneum? - ANS Protect lower layers
of the epidermis and the rest of the skin
2 Copyright ©2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
,Which layer of the epidermis acts as a barrier to moisture loss and is water-resistant? -
ANS Stratum corneum
Which layers of the epidermis are composed of dead cells? - ANS Stratum corneum, stratum
lucidum, stratum granulosum
Which layer of the epidermis is transparent? - ANS Stratum lucidum
What creates densely packed, clear keratin in the stratum lucidum? - ANS Keratinocytes
Which layer of the epidermis is where keratinization begins (and where keratin is produced)? -
ANS Stratum granulosum
What is the protein substance that forms keratin? - ANS Keratohyalin
In which layer of the epidermis does protection begin? - ANS Stratum granulosum
What makes the stratum spinosum the "spiny layer?" - ANS Desmosomes which provide
strength and support between cells
Where do langerhan cells reside and protect the body from infection (alongside T-cells)? -
ANS Stratum spinosum
Which layer of the epidermis is called the "basal layer?" - ANS Stratum germinativum as this
is where basal cells go through mitosis
What is the purpose of the hemidesmosomes in the stratum germinativum? - ANS Attach
epidermis to the dermis to form basement membrane
3 Copyright ©2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, Where are Merkel cells found? - ANS Stratum germinativum (in thick skin)
Where are melanocytes found? - ANS Stratum germinativum (in thin skin)
What cells cover and protect the inside of the body? - ANS Epithelial
What are the two layers that the dermis is divided into? - ANS Papillary Dermis and Reticular
Dermis
Which immune cells reside in the stratum spinosum and provide the first line of defense in
identifying foreign substances? - ANS Langerhans Cells
Secretion is one of the six functions of the skin. Does it refer to sebum or sweat being secreted?
- ANS Sebum which affects pH
Excretion is one of the six functions of the skin. Does it refer to sebum or sweat being excreted?
- ANS Neither. Excretion refers to toxic waste and materials excreted through SWEAT glands
and pores (i.e. CO2)
In which of the six functions of the skin is sweat involved? - ANS Regulation as sweat helps to
regulate body temperature
What are Merkel cells? - ANS Touch receptors found in the Stratum Germinativum
What are the three components of the dermis? - ANS Fibroblast Cells, Elastin, and Collagen
What is the purpose of Fibroblast Cells? - ANS Aid in the production of collagen and elastin
4 Copyright ©2025 BRAINBARTER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
