Malpighian layer
Malpighian Layer
The Malpighian Layer (pronunciation: mal-PIG-ee-an lay-er), also known as the Stratum Malpighi, is a layer of the epidermis that lies between the stratum granulosum and the stratum basale. It is named after the Italian physician and anatomist Marcello Malpighi who first described it.
Etymology
The term "Malpighian" is derived from the name of Marcello Malpighi, a 17th-century Italian physician and anatomist who made significant contributions to the study of human anatomy. The term "layer" is derived from the Old English word "laege", which means "to lay" or "to place".
Description
The Malpighian Layer is composed of two parts: the stratum spinosum and the stratum basale. The stratum spinosum, also known as the prickle cell layer, is several cells thick and is where keratinocytes first start to produce keratin. The stratum basale, also known as the basal cell layer, is a single layer of cells and is where new skin cells are produced.
Function
The primary function of the Malpighian Layer is to produce new skin cells. These cells are then pushed up to the surface of the skin, where they die and become the outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum. This process is known as keratinization.
Related Terms
- Epidermis: The outermost layer of the skin.
- Stratum granulosum: The layer of the epidermis just above the Malpighian Layer.
- Stratum basale: The deepest layer of the epidermis, which is part of the Malpighian Layer.
- Stratum spinosum: The layer of the epidermis that is part of the Malpighian Layer.
- Keratinization: The process by which skin cells become filled with keratin and move to the surface of the skin.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Malpighian layer
- Wikipedia's article - Malpighian layer
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