Does extracellular matrix includes extracellular fluid and is it appropriate to say that extracellular matrix is consists of “collagen fibres and basement membranes”?
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the solid material found outside the cell and manufactured by the embedded cells. The composition of the ECM is usually unique for different tissues. While ECM can contain large amounts of fluid (mainly water), extracellular fluid is not the matrix. Yes collagen (and there are various types) is the major ECM protein. See MBoC extracellular matrix.
