Michigan Esthetician State Board
Theory Exam Prep (2026/2027)
Questions and Answers
What item should be used on tools and implements that have not come in
contact with blood or body fluids?
✅ Broad-Spectrum Disinfectants
What machine is used to sterilize surgical instruments with high-pressure and
high-temperature vapors?
✅ Chemiclave
Instruments can be pre-cleaned using:
✅ High-frequency energy waves
What is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
responsible for?
✅ Enforces safety and health standards in the workplace
Which department is OSHA under?
✅ Department of Labor
What do Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provide information on?
✅ Specific product ingredients, hazards, combustion levels, and storage
requirements
What is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responsible for?
✅ Approving the efficacy of products and verifying effectiveness of products against
organisms listed on the labels
Which infection control equipment utilizes UV light to kill bacteria in a dry
setting?
,✅ UV Light Sterilizer
Can a UV light sterilizer kill all bacterial spores?
✅ No, it cannot be relied upon to do that
Which infection control equipment uses pressure, heat, and/or pressurized
steam?
✅ Autoclave
Which infection control equipment high-pressure, high-temperature water,
alcohol, and formaldehyde vapors?
✅ Chemiclave
What are the five layer of the epidermis (top to bottom)?
✅ 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?
✅ True skin
Which types of cells are found in the stratum corneum?
✅ Keratinocytes and squamous cells
What are keratinocytes tightly interconnected by on the skin's surface?
✅ Desmosomes
What is the purpose of a squamous cell in the stratum corneum?
✅ Protect lower layers of the epidermis and the rest of the skin
Which layer of the epidermis acts as a barrier to moisture loss and is water-
resistant?
✅ Stratum corneum
,Which layers of the epidermis are composed of dead cells?
✅ Stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum granulosum
Which layer of the epidermis is transparent?
✅ Stratum lucidum
What creates densely packed, clear keratin in the stratum lucidum?
✅ Keratinocytes
Which layer of the epidermis is where keratinization begins (and where keratin
is produced)?
✅ Stratum granulosum
What is the protein substance that forms keratin?
✅ Keratohyalin
In which layer of the epidermis does protection begin?
✅ Stratum granulosum
What makes the stratum spinosum the "spiny layer?"
✅ Desmosomes which provide strength and support between cells
Where do langerhan cells reside and protect the body from infection
(alongside T-cells)?
✅ Stratum spinosum
Which layer of the epidermis is called the "basal layer?"
✅ Stratum germinativum as this is where basal cells go through mitosis
What is the purpose of the hemidesmosomes in the stratum germinativum?
✅ Attach epidermis to the dermis to form basement membrane
Where are Merkel cells found?
✅ Stratum germinativum (in thick skin)
Where are melanocytes found?
, ✅ Stratum germinativum (in thin skin)
What cells cover and protect the inside of the body?
✅ Epithelial
What are the two layers that the dermis is divided into?
✅ Papillary Dermis and Reticular Dermis
Which immune cells reside in the stratum spinosum and provide the first line
of defense in identifying foreign substances?
✅ Langerhans Cells
Secretion is one of the six functions of the skin. Does it refer to sebum or
sweat being secreted?
✅ Sebum which affects pH
Excretion is one of the six functions of the skin. Does it refer to sebum or
sweat being excreted?
✅ 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?
✅ Regulation as sweat helps to regulate body temperature
What are Merkel cells?
✅ Touch receptors found in the Stratum Germinativum
What are the three components of the dermis?
✅ Fibroblast Cells, Elastin, and Collagen
What is the purpose of Fibroblast Cells?
✅ Aid in the production of collagen and elastin
Which cells reside in the dermis and respond to allergies by releasing
histamine?
✅ Mast Cells
Theory Exam Prep (2026/2027)
Questions and Answers
What item should be used on tools and implements that have not come in
contact with blood or body fluids?
✅ Broad-Spectrum Disinfectants
What machine is used to sterilize surgical instruments with high-pressure and
high-temperature vapors?
✅ Chemiclave
Instruments can be pre-cleaned using:
✅ High-frequency energy waves
What is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
responsible for?
✅ Enforces safety and health standards in the workplace
Which department is OSHA under?
✅ Department of Labor
What do Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provide information on?
✅ Specific product ingredients, hazards, combustion levels, and storage
requirements
What is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responsible for?
✅ Approving the efficacy of products and verifying effectiveness of products against
organisms listed on the labels
Which infection control equipment utilizes UV light to kill bacteria in a dry
setting?
,✅ UV Light Sterilizer
Can a UV light sterilizer kill all bacterial spores?
✅ No, it cannot be relied upon to do that
Which infection control equipment uses pressure, heat, and/or pressurized
steam?
✅ Autoclave
Which infection control equipment high-pressure, high-temperature water,
alcohol, and formaldehyde vapors?
✅ Chemiclave
What are the five layer of the epidermis (top to bottom)?
✅ 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?
✅ True skin
Which types of cells are found in the stratum corneum?
✅ Keratinocytes and squamous cells
What are keratinocytes tightly interconnected by on the skin's surface?
✅ Desmosomes
What is the purpose of a squamous cell in the stratum corneum?
✅ Protect lower layers of the epidermis and the rest of the skin
Which layer of the epidermis acts as a barrier to moisture loss and is water-
resistant?
✅ Stratum corneum
,Which layers of the epidermis are composed of dead cells?
✅ Stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum granulosum
Which layer of the epidermis is transparent?
✅ Stratum lucidum
What creates densely packed, clear keratin in the stratum lucidum?
✅ Keratinocytes
Which layer of the epidermis is where keratinization begins (and where keratin
is produced)?
✅ Stratum granulosum
What is the protein substance that forms keratin?
✅ Keratohyalin
In which layer of the epidermis does protection begin?
✅ Stratum granulosum
What makes the stratum spinosum the "spiny layer?"
✅ Desmosomes which provide strength and support between cells
Where do langerhan cells reside and protect the body from infection
(alongside T-cells)?
✅ Stratum spinosum
Which layer of the epidermis is called the "basal layer?"
✅ Stratum germinativum as this is where basal cells go through mitosis
What is the purpose of the hemidesmosomes in the stratum germinativum?
✅ Attach epidermis to the dermis to form basement membrane
Where are Merkel cells found?
✅ Stratum germinativum (in thick skin)
Where are melanocytes found?
, ✅ Stratum germinativum (in thin skin)
What cells cover and protect the inside of the body?
✅ Epithelial
What are the two layers that the dermis is divided into?
✅ Papillary Dermis and Reticular Dermis
Which immune cells reside in the stratum spinosum and provide the first line
of defense in identifying foreign substances?
✅ Langerhans Cells
Secretion is one of the six functions of the skin. Does it refer to sebum or
sweat being secreted?
✅ Sebum which affects pH
Excretion is one of the six functions of the skin. Does it refer to sebum or
sweat being excreted?
✅ 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?
✅ Regulation as sweat helps to regulate body temperature
What are Merkel cells?
✅ Touch receptors found in the Stratum Germinativum
What are the three components of the dermis?
✅ Fibroblast Cells, Elastin, and Collagen
What is the purpose of Fibroblast Cells?
✅ Aid in the production of collagen and elastin
Which cells reside in the dermis and respond to allergies by releasing
histamine?
✅ Mast Cells
