Question

Cells of stratum Malpighii are:
A. Oval
B. Flat
C. Columnar
D. Spherical

Answer 1

Hint: Stratum Malpighi is a single layered and made up of simple epithelial tissue whose nucleus is present at the base.

Complete answer
There are five different layers of the epidermis -stratum basale (innermost), stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum and stratum corneum (outermost). Out of these, Stratum Malpighi (also known as stratum basale) is the innermost layer that plays a vital role in the skin as it protects the skin from pathogens and prevents the excessive water loss. Moreover, it is also germinative and mitotically active and divides to form the stratum spinosum, which migrates superficially. Stratum Malpighi is the innermost layer of the skin and is made up of columnar epithelium.
The stratum corneum or the cornified layer is the outermost layer of cells consisting of several dead flat cells. These cells are made of keratin. The cornified layer offers protection against loss of water, bacterial infection and mechanical damage. The middle granular layer is a thin layer made up of flat cells. It gives way to the outermost cornified layer.

Additional Information:
Other types of cells that are present in the stratum basale are melanocytes that are responsible for pigmentation of the skin, immune cells that are responsible for innate immunity of the body and few touch receptors. It is also very important to mention here that this layer is responsible for basal cell cancer that accounts for 80 percent of the total skin cancers. Flat and irregular shape is present in the squamous epithelium that is present mainly in the endothelium and alveoli of the lung. The main function of epidermis is protection and the glands like sweat gland and sebum gland are absent in this layer. Below this layer is the dermis that is responsible for the secretion of oil and sweat.

Therefore, the correct option is C, that is, columnar cells.

Note:Epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and its function is that it is protective in nature and it is the site where most of the skin cancer occurs. The other two layers are Dermis and Hypodermis.