Pennsylvania Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

Which layer of skin features cells that resemble tiny granules?

1. Stratum Basale

2. Stratum Granulosum

3. Stratum Spinosum

4. Stratum Corneum

The correct answer is: Stratum Granulosum

The layer of skin that features cells resembling tiny granules is the Stratum Granulosum. In this layer, keratinocytes begin to undergo a process called keratinization. During this process, the cells accumulate keratohyalin granules, which are rich in proteins that help to form keratin, the primary structural protein in the skin. This granule presence gives the Stratum Granulosum its name and is a key characteristic, indicating that the cells are moving towards the outer layers of the skin, where they will eventually die and contribute to the protective barrier. As the cells in this layer become more flattened and packed with keratin, they transition further into the Stratum Lucidum (in thick skin) or into the outer layer, known as the Stratum Corneum. This makes the Stratum Granulosum critical for skin health, as it prepares the cells for the barrier function necessary to protect deeper layers from the external environment.