核纤层旧称“核周层”、“核衬层”或“核层”，是位于细胞核内染色质与核膜之间的高电子密度网络片层结构，由中间丝与膜相关蛋白（membrane associated proteins）交织形成，普遍存在于真核细胞的细胞核中。核纤层处于核基质中，在核内与核内膜（inner nuclear membrane，INM）相连，在核外则与内质网相连。核纤层是支撑细胞核的一种结构，对调节DNA自我复制、DNA转录、细胞凋亡与细胞分裂过程中核膜的破裂及重建也起到一定作用。此外，核纤层还可以辅助组织染色质并锚定核孔复合物（nuclear pore complexes，NPCs）、核膜蛋白及转录因子。

The nuclear lamina is a dense (~30 to 100 nm thick) fibrillar network inside the nucleus of most cells. It is composed of intermediate filaments and membrane associated proteins. Besides providing mechanical support, the nuclear lamina regulates important cellular events such as DNA replication and cell division. Additionally, it participates in chromatin organization and it anchors the nuclear pore complexes embedded in the nuclear envelope.