Alterations in the structure of bronchial basement membrane in relation to textural changes of the bronchial mucosa.
Metaplastic and dysplastic bronchial epithelium in adult humans causes papilliform excrescences of the basement membrane. These excrescences, which protrude into the bronchial lining, conatin a capillary system. This change in the structure of the basement membrane appears to be a response to the altered architecture of the epithelium.
D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001717:Birds; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals; D008679:Metaplasia; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning