The deepest layer of the epidermis is called the stratum basale, also known as the stratum germinativum. This layer is responsible for generating new skin cells and attaching the epidermis to the basal lamina, which separates it from the dermis.
The stratum basale is composed of a single layer of actively dividing cells called basal cells. These cells constantly divide to produce new cells that migrate upwards through the other layers of the epidermis, eventually becoming the outermost layer of dead cells that form the skin's protective barrier.
The stratum basale also contains melanocytes, which produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color and protects it from ultraviolet radiation.
