stratum basale

noun

stratum ba·​sa·​le -bā-ˈsā-lē 

plural strata basalia -lē-ə 

1

: the basal layer of the epidermis consisting of a single row of columnar or cuboidal epithelial cells that continually divide and replace the rest of the epidermis as it wears away

called also stratum germinativum

see malpighian layer

2

: the deep layer of the endometrium that is between the stratum spongiosum and the myometrium and that is retained during menstruation