Keratinisation

Mitotic activity in basale layer.  Cells in this layer contain amino acids which combine to form polypeptide chains. S. Spinosum.  Filligrin in the cells begins to bind to keratin microfibrils, and the cells become more polygonal. S.Granulosom.  Cells begin to lose nuclei and organelles, and convert amino acid into keratin. S.Lucidium.  Cells become flatter and cell membranes thicken providing further attachment of microfibrils of keratin. S. Corneum.  Cells have now lost normal content and have been replaced with microfibrils of keratin.  Dead cells.  Cells held together with desmosomes.  Desmosomes are broken by proteases which begins catabolism by hydrolysis.  Cells then become detached and desquamate as flattened dead squames of keratin.

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