<P> The stratum basale (basal layer, sometimes referred to as stratum germinativum) is the deepest layer of the five layers of the epidermis, the outer covering of skin in mammals . </P> <P> The stratum basale is a single layer of columnar or cuboidal cells . The cells are attached to each other and to the overlying stratum spinosum cells by desmosomes and hemidesmosomes . The nucleus is large, ovoid and occupies most of the cell . Some basal cells can act like stem cells with ability to divide and produced new cells, whereas others serve to anchor the epidermis glabrous skin (hairless), and hyper - proliferative epidermis (from a skin disease). </P>

The epidermis contains a layer of cells called the stratum germinativum where