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Unit 2-Chapter 6
Layers of the Epidermis
| LAYER | LOCATION | CHARACTERISTICS |
|---|---|---|
| Stratum corneum | Superior (outermost) layer | Many layers of keratinized, dead epithelial cells that are flattened and non-nucleated |
| Stratum lucidum (only present in thick skin) | Between stratum corneum and stratum granulosum on soles and palms | Cells appear clear; nuclei, organelles, and cell membranes are no longer visible |
| Stratum granulosum | Beneath the stratum corneum | Three to five layers of flattened granular cells that contain shrunken fibers of keratin and shriveled nuclei |
| Stratum spinosum | Beneath the stratum granulosum | Many layers of cells with centrally located, large, oval nuclei and developing fibers of keratin; cells becoming flattened |
| Stratum basale (basal cell layer) | Deepest layer | A single row of cuboidal or columnar cells that divide and grow; this layer also includes melanocytes |