The cells of this epithelium undergo divisions in its basal portion and slowly move towards the surface. The cuboidal basal cells become flattened during their migration to the surface.
Place or click the cursor over the image to observe how the shapes of the cells change from cuboidal to squamous during their migration from the lower to the upper regions of the epithelial layer.
Stratified squamous epithelium. Staining: Mallory’ trichrome. Large magnification.
In the most superficial layer, the cytoplasm of the cells was stained yellow by the staining technique used in this preparation. This resulted from the process of their cornification (or keratinization).
This epithelium is located in an area of the body subject to much friction. Observe that, unlike the epithelium observed on the previous page, which has a smooth deep surface, this one has a wrinkled basal surface. As a result, the epithelial tissue layer and the connective tissue become strongly interlocked, increasing the adhesion of the epithelium to the connective tissue and preventing it from coming loose easily.