Stratum Basale (Noun)
Meaning
The innermost layer of the epidermis.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The stratum basale is the innermost layer of the epidermis that is in contact with the dermal-epidermal junction, and is responsible for the production of new skin cells through mitosis.
- The stratum basale lies adjacent to the dermis and is attached to it by a thin layer of fibrous connective tissue.
- As the parent layer of the epidermis, the stratum basale gives rise to the rest of the layers through the process of cell division and differentiation.
- Cells in the stratum basale are typically cuboidal or columnar in shape and have a large nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio, reflecting their role in cell division.
- The stratum basale is also the site of melanocyte residence, where melanocytes produce melanin that is transferred to surrounding keratinocytes through dendritic processes.