Final answer:
During basal cell carcinoma, epidermal cells from the stratum basale turn cancerous and invade the dermis. These cancerous cells are typically removed through surgery or biopsy for treatment. Preventive skin surveillance is important for early detection and successful treatment. the correct option is A. invade the dermis.
Step-by-step explanation:
During basal cell carcinoma, the epidermal cells in the stratum basale invade the dermis. Basal cell carcinoma is a form of skin cancer that originates from the basal cells located in the stratum basale layer of the epidermis, which is the deepest layer. These basal cells are mitotically active stem cells responsible for producing all the keratinocytes of the epidermis.
Keratinocytes are the cells that make up most of the epidermis and are involved in skin protection by forming a barrier against environmental damage, such as pathogens and UV radiation. In basal cell carcinoma, these basal cells become cancerous, leading to uncontrolled growth. The cancerous cells invade the dermis, which is the skin layer just below the epidermis, creating a lesion typically identified as a pearly or waxy bump.