Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The epidermis of the skin consists of several layers, with the outermost layer being the stratum corneum, composed of flattened, dead, keratinized cells.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us review the pathological terms for skin abnormalities:
- Hyperkeratosis: Hyperplasia and thickening of the stratum corneum layer of the epidermis. It can be orthokeratotic (no nuclei retained) or parakeratotic. Thus, statement (A) is correct.
- Parakeratosis: Thickening of the stratum corneum with the abnormal retention of nuclei in the keratinocytes.
- Acanthosis: Diffuse hyperplasia and thickening of the stratum spinosum (prickle cell layer) of the epidermis.
- Pachyderma: Abnormal, gross thickening of the entire skin structure.
Therefore, the thickening of the stratum corneum specifically is called hyperkeratosis.
Step 3: Final Answer
The correct option is (A).