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Basal lamina

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	Topics Basal lamina Topic Home The basal lamina is a layer of extracellular matrix on which epitheliumEpithelium In skinology epithelium is a tissue composed of a layer of cells.... sits and which is secreted by the epithelial cells. It is often confused with the basement membraneBasement membrane The basement membrane is a structure that supports overlying epithelial or endothelial cells.... , and sometimes used inconsistently in the literature, see below. It is typically about 40-50 nanometreNanometre A nanometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one billionth of a metre .... s thick (with exceptions such as the basal laminae that compose the 100-200 nanometre thick glomerular basement membraneGlomerular basement membrane The glomerular basement membrane is the basal laminal portion of the glomerulus which performs the actual filtration though ... ). Basal lamina vs. basement membrane The term "basal lamina" is usually used with electron microscopy, while the term "basement membrane" is usually used with light microscopy. The structure known as the basement membrane in light microscopy refers to the stained structure anchoring an epithelial layer. This encompasses the basal lamina secreted by epithelial cells and typically a reticular lamina secreted by other cells. The basal lamina cannot be distinguished under the light microscope, but under the higher magnification of an electron microscope, the basal lamina and lamina reticularis are visibly distinct structures. Some theorize that the lamina lucida is an artifact created when preparing the tissue, and that the basement membrane is therefore equal to the lamina densa in vivoIn vivo In vivo means that which takes place inside an organism.... . Examples of basement membranes include: Basilar membraneBasilar membrane The basilar membrane within the cochlea of the inner ear is a stiff structural element that separates two liquid-filled tube... Bruch's membraneBruch's membrane Bruch's membrane is the innermost layer of the choroid.... Descemet's membraneDescemet's membrane Descemet's membrane is the basement membrane that lies between the corneal proper substance, also called stroma, and the end... Glomerular basement membraneGlomerular basement membrane Overview The glomerular basement membrane is the basal laminal portion of the glomerulus which performs the actual filtration though ... See also Alveolar-capillary barrierAlveolar-capillary barrier The alveolar-capillary barrier exists in the gas exchanging region of the lungs.... Basolateral membraneBasolateral membrane Summary The basolateral membrane of an epithelial cell is the part of the plasma membrane that forms its basal and lateral surfaces.... CollagenCollagen Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 40% o... Glomerular basement membraneGlomerular basement membrane The glomerular basement membrane is the basal laminal portion of the glomerulus which performs the actual filtration though ... Lamina propriaLamina propria The lamina propria is a thin vascular layer of areolar connective tissue beneath the epithelium and is part of the mucous me...