ECM

Extracellular matrix (ECM) in biology refers to the complex network of macromolecules that resides outside cells in tissues and organs. It is primarily composed of structural proteins such as collagen and elastin, glycoproteins like laminins, and proteoglycans. The ECM provides mechanical support, influences cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation, and acts as a reservoir for signaling molecules. Its composition and physical properties vary by tissue and development stage, contributing to tissue stiffness, porosity, and remodeling ability. ECM remodeling is an active process involved in development, wound healing, and pathologies such as fibrosis and cancer, where changes in composition or organization can alter cell behavior.

Enterprise content management (ECM) describes a set of strategies, processes, and software tools used to capture, store, manage, preserve, and deliver an organization's information assets. Core functions typically include document management, records management, web content management, imaging, workflow, and search. ECM aims to improve efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, enable controlled access, and support knowledge sharing across departments. Modern ECM often spans on-premises and cloud deployments, integrates with other enterprise systems such as ERP and CRM, and supports lifecycle management, versioning, access controls, and audit trails.

Other uses of ECM include electrochemical machining, a non-traditional manufacturing process that removes metal by anodic dissolution, and engineering change management, a formal process for requesting, evaluating, approving, and implementing design changes in products or systems. The meaning of ECM is context dependent, and disambiguation is usually provided by the surrounding technical domain.