The epidermis of the skin consists of many layers of tightly packed cells. the outermost layer of cells are dead. which best describes why this occurs? chemical compounds containing digestive enzymes are located on the outside of the skin, and they destroy the cells. blood vessels are not located in the epidermis, but in the underlying dermal connective tissue. the outer layer of skin is nervous tissue and nervous tissue will not regenerate. pathogens on the skin secrete toxins that affect the cellular structure, thus destroying the cell.