HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What characterizes the structure of the basal lamina?

1. It is soft and flexible

2. It is thick and fibrous

3. It is thin and tough

4. It is fluid and easily movable

The correct answer is: It is thin and tough

The basal lamina is best characterized as thin and tough. It is a specialized layer of the extracellular matrix that lies beneath epithelial cells and surrounds muscle and fat cells. This structure plays a crucial role in providing support and anchoring the cells to the underlying tissue. Its thinness allows it to be selective in filtering molecules and facilitating communication between the epithelium and the connective tissue beneath it. The toughness of the basal lamina contributes to its durability, helping maintain structural integrity and support for the tissues it underlies. Other options fail to accurately describe the basal lamina; for instance, being soft and flexible would imply a lack of the rigidity necessary for its supportive role, while being thick and fibrous suggests a strength and density that does not align with the actual structure of the basal lamina. Fluidity and easy movability contradict its function as a stable, supportive layer.