[Basement membranes: general aspects, role in odontogenesis].

Basement membranes are interposed between epithelial and mesenchymal cells and surround muscles. This particular extracellular matrix was first considered as a static structure, assuming cohesiveness of adjacent tissues. However during the last ten years, basement membranes were shown to be continuously renewed and to present compositional and structural modifications. During development changing basement membranes play important roles during histomorphogenesis and cytodifferentiation and are involved in normal and pathological behavior of adult tissues.