Choose one concept in our lesson today, give a brief explanation about the concept and cite how this learning can be applied in your daily life.
The stratum basale is the deepest layer of the epidermis. It is composed of a single row of either cuboidal or columnar keratinocytes. In this layer, there are stem cells that go through cell division to produce new keratinocytes. With this in mind, the stratum basale is actually the only layer of the epidermis that undergoes mitosis. As such, as someone who is pursuing a career in healthcare, skin wounds would never be an uncommon occurrence. Thus, it is essential to know that the epidermal skin cannot heal if a large portion of the stratum basale and its stem cells are destroyed. With this degree of injury, only a skin graft, which is a transfer of a healthy patch of skin to cover the wound, can be utilized to alleviate the damage (Tortora & Derrickson, 2018). Therefore, it should be marked in our minds to always take care of our skin. Of course, epidermal wounds are usually no cause for concern, but that does not mean that we should disregard and overwork our skin. In a way, the stratum basale can symbolize our own origins, because, like cells, we all came from somewhere. To neglect our roots is to neglect the rich history that came along with them. With this, it is quite simple to appreciate and care for our skin. For example, one of the easiest ways to take care of the stratum basale is to always be hydrated and observe a healthy diet. Ultimately, like with our own origins, we need to pay mind to our stratum basale so that it can pay mind to us.
Reference:
Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. H. (2018). Principles of anatomy and physiology. John Wiley & Sons.