parabasal cell 참조.

Squamous cells of the cervix are stratified (have distinct layers) into four cell layers–the top superficial layer, the intermediate layer just underneath this layer, the parabasal layer, and finally, the basal or reserve cell layer.

Under the influence of estrogen and progesterone, the top layers are continuously being sloughed off and replaced by new cells that mature, starting from beneath at the basal layer.

There are generally three types of squamous cells seen on Pap Tests (named after Dr. George Papanicolaou, inventor of the multicolor "Pap" stain and sampling technique) –the superficial, intermediate, and parabasal cell types.

• The superficial cells are the largest of the three and have small pyknotic (degenerative) nuclei and cytoplasm that generally stains eosinophilic.
• The intermediate squamous cells are similar in appearance but are slightly smaller in size and have larger, clearly structured, round nuclei with cytoplasm that usually stains basophilic. Both cell types are polygonal in shape. The intermediate cell type is the most common cell type seen.
• The parabasal cell type is a smaller, more rounded, immature cell type that is located below the intermediate cell layer.

• Medscape: Parabasal Cell
• http://www.i2k.com/~suzanne/normalpap.htm