Final answer:
A benign tumor remains within the boundary marked by the basal lamina. The basal lamina is part of the basement membrane that anchors epithelial tissue and separates it from other tissues. Basal cell carcinoma, while a form of cancer in basal cells, usually does not metastasize, making it curable with procedures such as a biopsy.
Step-by-step explanation:
A benign tumor remains inside the basal lamina that marks the boundary of the normal structure.
The basal lamina is a thin extracellular layer that lies underneath epithelial cells and separates them from other tissues. It is part of the basement membrane, which is a thin layer of fibrous material that anchors the epithelial tissue to the underlying connective tissue. This membrane is composed of the basal lamina and the reticular lamina. When a tumor is classified as benign, it means that it hasn't invaded neighboring tissues or metastasized to distant parts of the body, which contrasts with malignant tumors that break through the basal lamina and spread.
In the context of basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, the cancer occurs in the basal cells of the epidermis. However, basal cell carcinomas rarely metastasize, so they do not typically penetrate the basal lamina and spread to other areas, which is why they are often curable with procedures such as a biopsy.