Basal
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
The term 'basal' refers to anatomical structures positioned at the base or foundation of an organism. It describes locations opposite to apical ends, such as the basal end of a phalanx or cell, and structures like the basal membrane located beneath epithelium.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
BASAL (Latin basalis, from basis-foundation, pedestal), basic - an anatomical term of recent origin, unknown to classical Latin. It is used in the following senses: 1. Directed toward the base, directed inward into the organism; for example, the basal end of a phalanx, the basal end of a cell, in opposition to the apical, terminal end. 2. Lying at the base or under the base; examples: the basal membrane (membrana basalis), lying beneath the epithelium in the skin or mucous membrane; basal bodies (see), lying at the base of the cilia of ciliated epithelium; the basal segment in multi-segmented antennae; basal ganglia - nodes of gray matter located at the base of the brain. - Nasal metabolism, see Metabolism.
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“Basal.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/basal/