Lamina lucida

The lamina lucida is a component of the basement membrane which is found between the epithelium and underlying connective tissue (e.g., epidermis and dermis of the skin). It is a roughly 40 nanometre wide electron-lucent zone between the plasma membrane of the basal cells and the (electron-dense) lamina densa of the basement membrane.[1]

Similarly, electron-lucent and electron-dense zones can be seen between enamel of teeth and the junctional epithelium. The electron-lucent zone is adjacent to the cells of the junctional epithelium and might be considered a continuation of the lamina lucida as both are seen to harbour hemidesmosomes. However, unlike the lamina densa, the electron-dense zone adjacent to enamel show no signs of hemidesmosomes.[2]

Some theorize that the lamina lucida is an artifact created when preparing the tissue, and that the lamina lucida is therefore equal to the lamina densa in vivo.[3]

See also

References
  1. James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (10th ed.). Saunders. Page 5. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.
  2. Lindhe's Clinical Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, 4th ed.
  3. Chan F, Inoue S (1994). "Lamina lucida of basement membrane: an artefact". Microsc Res Tech. 28 (1): 48–59. doi:10.1002/jemt.1070280106. PMID 8061357.


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