So aside from affecting the way that cells actually adhere to one another, these proteins can also change the composition of the extracellular matrix that is found around the cell. Now, what has the extracellular matrix have to do with the process of morphogenesis? Well, basically the entire purpose and function of the extracellular matrix is basically one of two things. What it does is it separates the different types of cells. So by producing this extracellular matrix, which consists of different types of protein proteins such as for example, collagen, this cell is separated from this cell. Now, the other purpose of the matrix is to basically create a system of roads that ultimately allows a cell to move or migrate from one location to a different location.