Question:medium
What constitutes the Malpighian layer of the epidermis?
What constitutes the Malpighian layer of the epidermis?
Show Hint
The Malpighian (germinative) layer is the two deepest viable epidermal layers.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Stratum corneum and stratum lucidum
- Stratum corneum and stratum spinosum
- Stratum spinosum and stratum basale
- Stratum basale and stratum granulosum
Show Solution
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Recall the named layer. The Malpighian layer (stratum malpighii), named after Marcello Malpighi, refers to the living, germinative portion of the epidermis.
Step 2: List the epidermal strata from base upward: basale, spinosum, granulosum, lucidum, corneum. The two deepest viable layers are basale and spinosum.
Step 3: The accepted definition groups the stratum $basale$ and stratum $spinosum$ together as the Malpighian layer, because these house the proliferating basal cells and the desmosome-linked prickle cells.
Step 4: Options pairing corneum, lucidum or granulosum are wrong, since those represent the superficial keratinising layers. The match is spinosum plus basale.\[\boxed{\text{Stratum spinosum and stratum basale}}\]
Step 2: List the epidermal strata from base upward: basale, spinosum, granulosum, lucidum, corneum. The two deepest viable layers are basale and spinosum.
Step 3: The accepted definition groups the stratum $basale$ and stratum $spinosum$ together as the Malpighian layer, because these house the proliferating basal cells and the desmosome-linked prickle cells.
Step 4: Options pairing corneum, lucidum or granulosum are wrong, since those represent the superficial keratinising layers. The match is spinosum plus basale.\[\boxed{\text{Stratum spinosum and stratum basale}}\]
Was this answer helpful?
0
