The basement membrane is a thin layer found in most epithelial tissues that segregates the epithelium, from its adjacent connective tissue. Its extracellular matrix consists of a mixture of type VII reticular collagens, laminin & entactin (types of glycoproteins) and perlecan (an heparan sulphate-rich proteoglycan). Mesenchymal cells promote the formation of the basement membrane by synthesizing several of its major components including type IV collagen and laminin. The basement membrane has a crucial role to play in several important cellular functions. During tissue development, cells migrate along the basement membrane which also serves as environment for chemical messaging required for proliferation and differentiations of the cells. Basement
