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Basal lamina

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File:Basal lamina.jpg

The basal lamina is a layer of extracellular matrix on which epithelium sits and which is secreted by the epithelial cells. It is often confused with the basement membrane, and sometimes used inconsistently in the literature, see below.

It is typically about 40-50 nanometres thick (with exceptions such as the basal laminae that compose the 100-200 nanometre thick glomerular basement membrane).



Name Part of BL? Part of BM? Notes



Basal lamina vs. basement membraneEdit

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.


Examples of basement membranes include:

Additional imagesEdit

See alsoEdit


  1. Histology at Boston University 22403loa
  2. UIUC Histology Subject 500
  3. UIUC Histology Subject 499
  4. Histology at Boston University 20904loa
  5. Histology at Boston University 22203loa
  6. Chan F, Inoue S (1994). Lamina lucida of basement membrane: an artefact.. Microsc Res Tech 28 (1): 48-59. PMID 8061357.
  • 1 Kierszenbaum, AL. Histology and Cell Biology: An Introduction to Pathology. Mosby, Inc, MO: 2002. Chapter 4.

External linksEdit

{{enWP|Basal lamina|

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