Term
| What are the major and minor cell types of the epidermis? |
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Definition
Major - keratinocytes Minor - melanocytes, Langerhans cells, and Merkel cells |
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Term
| What are the layers of epidermis? |
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Definition
Stratum germinativum (basale) Stratum spinosum Stratum granulosum Stratum lucidum Stratum corneum |
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Term
| The 5 layers of epidermis are classified according to the maturation and differentiation of what cell type? |
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Definition
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Term
| Describe the stratum germinativum (basale) |
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Definition
Basal most layer resting on a basement membrane containing a single layer of low columnar cells, with a high number of mitotic figures; these cells move upwards and replenish the cells lost at the surface during epidermal turnover; desmosomes bind the cells at their upper and lateral surfaces and hemidesmosomes bind these cells to the basal lamina; these cells contain water insoluble keratin assembled into 7-8 nm tonofilaments inside the cytoplasm |
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Term
| Describe the stratum spinosum layer |
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Definition
| Contains two to four layers of cells connected by abundant desmosomes; the retration of the cell layers during histological processing gives a spiny appearance to the cells when cells shrink and demosomes maintain tight attachment; these cells contain keratin filaments organized into bundles called tonofibrils |
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