Tags: Anatomical Structure.
A stratified squamous epithelium consists of squamous (flattened) epithelial cells arranged in layers upon a basal membrane. Only one layer is in contact with the basement membrane; the other layers adhere to one another to maintain structural integrity. Although this epithelium is referred to as squamous many cells within the layers may not be flattened; this is due to the convention of naming epithelia according to the cell type at the surface.
