Answer – Stratum lucidum is a layer of the skin’s epidermis. It is a protective layer which also helps with the skin’s elasticity.
Explanation:
Skin can be divided into three main layers: hypodermis, dermis and epidermis. Each of these is further comprised of a few sub-layers.
Epidermis is the outermost layer of skin and its sub-layers, in order from dermis to surface, are stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum and stratum corneum. (The word stratum means layer).
Of these the stratum lucidum is not found everywhere on the body. It is present only in areas where the skin is thickest, i.e, soles and palms. It is thin – only about 2-3 layers of dead cells – and is named lucidum as it appears translucent, almost clear, under the microscope. The cells are keratinocytes, and contain a type of keratin called eleidin.
Soles and palms and areas where the skin experiences a high degree of friction with its surroundings. Stratum lucidum protects the layers below from its effects. The keratin also adds elasticity, and serves as an additional barrier against water and other substances entering into and leaving from these sites.
