Multilayered Stratified Nonkeratinizing Squamous Epithelium—Esophagus

In multilayered stratified epithelium, there are always many stacked cell layers. Only one layer, the basal layer, is in contact with the basal membrane.  In the multilayered stratified nonkeratinizing squamous epithelium, the surface cells are flattened, while the cells of the basal layer are seemingly prismatic. In reality, cells of the basal layer have quite irregular shapes. The cells in layers following the stratum basale 1 have polyhedral geometry and are generally larger. In successive layers, cells are more and more flattened, until the largest diameters are measure d parallel to the surface. The nuclei are intact even in the top surface layer 2 . The dense, dark layer of basal cells is clearly visible because of the heavily stained cell nuclei. The lamina propria mucosae with its high connective tissue papilla 3 , 4 is layered underneath the epithelium.

1 Basal layer

2 Superficial layer

3 Connective tissue papilla, across

4 Connective tissue papilla

Stain: hemalum-eosin; magnification: × 50

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgar t · New York .