Final answer:
Hemidesmosomes are the anchoring junctions that attach epithelial tissues to the basement membrane, preventing their detachment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The junction that prevents epithelial tissues from detaching from the underlying basement membrane is a hemidesmosome. Epithelial tissues are anchored to the basement membrane by hemidesmosomes, which prevent them from detaching. These anchoring junctions are found on the basal surfaces of cells and provide strong and flexible connections. Hemidesmosomes are similar to desmosomes but instead include the adhesion proteins called integrins, which link cells to the extracellular matrix, such as the basal lamina. While desmosomes connect adjacent cells to each other, it is the hemidesmosomes that specifically anchor cells to the underlying matrix, hence maintaining the integrity of the epithelial tissue laying on the basement membrane.
Epithelial tissues have a free edge and need to be anchored to the underlying basement membrane to prevent detachment. The junction that prevents detachment is a desmosome. Desmosomes occur in patches on the membranes of cells and are made up of adhesion molecules called cadherins, which link with the cadherin molecules of adjacent cells, holding them together. These junctions play an important role in stabilizing epithelial tissues and preventing cells from detaching.