basement membrane

1 definition found

basement membrane - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Basement \Base"ment\ (b[=a]sment), n. [F. soubassement. Of
     uncertain origin. Cf. Base, a., Bastion.] (Arch.)
     The outer wall of the ground story of a building, or of a
     part of that story, when treated as a distinct substructure.
     (See Base, n., 3
     (a) .) Hence: The rooms of a ground floor, collectively.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     Basement membrane (Anat.), a delicate membrane composed of
        a single layer of flat cells, forming the substratum upon
        which, in many organs, the epithelioid cells are disposed.
        [1913 Webster]