List the stages a cell in the germinative layer will go through before
being shed from the surface of the epidermis

Hello kellystar-ga,

According to various academic and medical web pages, a cell that
starts out in the germinative layer (stratum germinativum) -- also
known as the basal layer (stratum basale) -- will proceed through four
more stages before being shed.  In order, the cell will move up to the
prickle-cell layer (stratum spinosum), the granular layer (stratum
granulosum), the clear layer (stratum lucidum), and the cornified (or
horny) layer (stratum corneum).  Apparently the clear layer is seen
only in thick skin.

Here are three pages that set forth these stages:

"Structure of Skin: The Epidermis"
National Chung Cheng University [Taiwan]
http://www.ccunix.ccu.edu.tw/~chenmsl/tea/SKIN_910721.htm#epidermis

"Histology Full-Text: Chapter 21 Skin"
William A Beresford MA, D Phil, Professor of Anatomy, Anatomy
Department, West Virginia University
http://wberesford.hsc.wvu.edu/histolch21.htm

"Atlas of Microscopic Anatomy - Section 7: Integument" [under the
heading "Epidermis], by Ronald A. Bergman, Ph.D., Adel K. Afifi, M.D.,
Paul M. Heidger, Jr., Ph.D.
Virtual Hospital
http://www.vh.org/adult/provider/anatomy/MicroscopicAnatomy/Section07/Section07.html

I hope that this information is helpful.

- justaskscott-ga


I used various combinations of the following search terms on Google:

germinative
skin
cell
epidermis
germinativum
basale
spinosum
granulosum
lucidum
corneum
prickle
granular
clear
cornified
horny

Thank you very much. It was very helpful. The websites that you
mentioned are also very useful. Thank you very much! I will be asking
you questions again.