Here's why:
* Stratified epithelium is a type of epithelial tissue composed of multiple layers of cells.
* The basement membrane is a thin, specialized extracellular layer that anchors epithelial tissue to the underlying connective tissue.
* In stratified epithelium, the basal layer, which is the layer closest to the basement membrane, contains actively dividing cells. These cells are responsible for replacing older cells that are lost from the surface layers.
Examples of stratified epithelia:
* Stratified squamous epithelium: Found in the skin, mouth, esophagus, vagina, and anus.
* Stratified cuboidal epithelium: Found in the ducts of sweat glands and mammary glands.
* Stratified columnar epithelium: Found in the lining of the male urethra and some parts of the pharynx.
It's important to note that not all epithelial cells with nuclei near the basement membrane are part of stratified epithelium. Some specialized cell types in other epithelial tissues might also have this characteristic.
