Cells that are almost dead are pushed to the surface to replace cells shed from which layer of the skin?

The stratum germinativum, also known as the basal layer, is the innermost layer of the epidermis where cell division occurs. In this layer, new skin cells are produced. As these newly formed cells grow, they move upward through the layers of the epidermis toward the surface.

As they advance, they undergo a process called keratinization, where they begin to flatten and die, eventually forming the tough, protective outer layer of skin. The cells that are nearing the end of their life cycle are pushed up from the stratum germinativum toward the upper layers, particularly replacing those that are being shed from the stratum corneum, which is the outermost layer of the skin composed of dead, flattened skin cells.

Understanding this layer is essential because it sets the foundation for healthy skin renewal, indicating that the health of the stratum germinativum directly influences the quality of the skin that reaches the surface.