Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)

Which layer of the skin is known to be in a constant state of mitosis?

1. Corneum

2. Lucidum

3. Basale

4. Granulosum

The correct answer is: Basale

The layer of the skin that is in a constant state of mitosis is the basal layer, also known as the stratum basale. This layer is located at the innermost part of the epidermis and is primarily responsible for the production of new skin cells. The reason the stratum basale undergoes continuous mitosis is due to its role in replenishing the outer layers of the skin. As the cells age and are shed from the surface of the skin, the stratum basale continuously generates new keratinocytes through division. This process is crucial for maintaining the overall health and integrity of the skin, as well as facilitating wound healing. Other layers of the skin, such as the stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, and stratum granulosum, consist primarily of cells that are either dead or in the process of keratinization, meaning they do not divide further. The stratum corneum, for instance, is composed of many layers of dead keratinized cells that provide a protective barrier. In contrast, the stratum granulosum contains cells that are beginning to die as they move upward and lose their nuclei, thus it is not a layer where active division occurs. The stratum lucid