LAYERS OF THE EPIDERMIS Notes in Notebook for HW 11/17 FROM SUPERFICIAL TO DEEP: Stratum corneum Stratum lucidum Stratum granulosum Stratum spinosum Stratum basale
STRATUM CORNEUM “horny layer” Outermost epidermal layer Made up of 20 to 30 cell layers Keratinization = cells gain keratin and are constantly sloughed off and replaced by new cells
STRATUM LUCIDUM Thin layer, but makes skin here thicker Clear, dead keratinocytes *Only found where skin is hairless (palms and soles of feet)
STRATUM GRANULOSUM Many granules in cells Some granules contain a waterproof lipid and others contain keratin Upper portions are beginning to die here
STRATUM SPINOSUM “spiny layer” Cells appear spiky Some cell division occurs in this layer Receives some nourishment from the dermis (by diffusion of blood)
STRATUM BASALE One row of cells right above dermis Cells constantly reproducing through cell division Adequate blood supply from dermis Melanocytes (pigment cells) produce the pigment (MELANIN) in this layer