[4] The underlying connective tissue attaches to the basal lamina with collagen VII anchoring fibrils and fibrillin microfibrils.

Integrins are a key component of hemidesmosomes which serve to anchor the epithelium to the underlying basement membrane.

The basement membrane acts as a mechanical barrier, preventing malignant cells from invading the deeper tissues.

[7] Early stages of malignancy that are thus limited to the epithelial layer by the basement membrane are called carcinoma in situ.

[12] Diseases involving basement membranes at multiple locations include: In histopathology, thickened basement membranes are found in several inflammatory diseases, such as lichen sclerosus, systemic lupus erythematosus or dermatomyositis in the skin, or collagenous colitis in the colon.