def _default_row_base(row_def, row):
    """
    Returns default row definition updated
    with the contents of `row`.

    Parameters
    ----------
    row_def: dict
        Definition for the row
    row: dict
        Dictionary describing the row

    Returns
    -------
    dict
        default dictionary updated with
        the contents of `row`
    """
    SPECIALS = ["Table name", "NumFields", "_status"]
    base_row = {key: item if key in SPECIALS else item[-1]
                for key, item in row_def.items()}
    base_row.update(row)
    return base_row