Stedman's > basement membrane

basement membrane

an amorphous extracellular layer closely applied to the basal surface of epithelium and also investing muscle cells, fat cells, and Schwann cells; thought to be a selective filter and to serve both structural and morphogenetic functions; it is composed of three successive layers (lamina lucida, lamina densa, and lamina fibroreticularis), a matrix of collagen (of which type IV is unique to the lamina densa of this membrane), and several glycoproteins.

Synonym(s): basement lamina, basilemma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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